Monday, oct 19,2015

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GOOD NEWS The Eastern Today in Khonsa For Your Copy: HAKHUN DIAGNOSTICS

Bank Colony, Khonsa Contact :

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Muklom Elite Society (MES) Kharsang Miao unit meeting held

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Contd. on Page 3

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the granaries of the sedulous farmers. And on this pretext this Bihu is also commonly termed as ‘Kongali Bihu’ where 'kongal' stands for poor.

This Bihu contradicts the other two Bihus viz. 'Magh Bihu’ or Bhugali bihu and ‘Bohag Bihu’ or Rongali Bihu.

Contd. on Page 3

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of 3.2 tonnes per hectare from the present 2.3 tonnes. The total average production would be 55 lakh tones from the area. He said, likewise, the four lakh hectares of flood prone area should be specially use to grow rice varieties suited to grow in that particular situation. For example submergence tolerance rice varieties like jalashree, jalkuwari and others like luit and dishang could be used.

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Contd. on Page 4

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Farmer reportedly commits suicide Meanwhile, Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi today ordered an inquiry by the Chief Secretary into the incident of a farmer suicide in the first week of September in Nalbari district. According to an official release issued by the office of the Assam

ET Correspondent Guwahati, Oct 18

In a major tragic incident in Assam, a farmer today reportedly committed suicide at Tihu in Nalbari district. The farmer, Dibakar Kalita, a resident of Nokhora Village in Tihu, allegedly committed suicide by cutting throat with a blade.

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policy, feels BJP's fate has been "sealed" by the RSS chief's remarks and claims a 1995-like situation prevails in Bihar when Janata Dal had

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RJD supremo Lalu Prasad, who has milked to the last drop Mohan Bhagwat's call for a review of the reservation

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Contd. on Page 4

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Tea industry hit by various challenges: NETA chief Bijoy Shankar Handique Jorhat, Oct 19

Bad price realisation has been detrimental to the tea industry in Assam as it is find-

ing it difficult to sustain its operations because of increase in cost production following wage rise said Bibakanda BorKakoty, the chairman of the North East Tea Association

Kati Bihu is primarily for the peasants

cmyk

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Contd. on Page 4

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here today. The NETA chairman said the present year has been a challenging one for the industry till the ensuing puja as we had to pay more to the workers while the cost have ○

Kati Bihu, also known as Kangali Bihu, was observed with much devotion, with Hindu households paying obeisance to Goddess Tulsi, planting a sapling and lighting an earthen lamp in front of it in the evening time. Kati Bihu is celebrated on the first day of the month of Kartik i.e.

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With the common man crying out over the alarming hike in prices of pulses, the Government on Sunday enabled

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The NSS unit, Jawaharlal Nehru College, Pasighat has successfully conducted its orientation-cum-induction ceremony of newly inducted NSS volunteer of the college on 13th October 2015 at the

the seventh month of the Assamese calendar. Earthen lamps are believed to help souls find their path to paradise. Kati Bihu is closely related to agriculture and peasants. This is the time of the year when the paddy grows in the fields and cultivators work hard and hopefully await a stupendous harvest. It can be said that this period of time also witnesses emptiness in

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Agencies Patna, Oct 18

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Spl Correspondent Pasighat, Oct 18

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Orientation cum induction ceremony of NSS volunteers held at JNC

Pranjal Pratim Bhuyan

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imposition of stock limits on pulses sourced from imports, stocks held by exporters, stocks to be used as raw-materials by licensed food processors and stocks of large departmental retailers.

Contd. on Page 4

ANI New Delhi, Oct. 18

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Bhagwat's quota remark "sealed" BJP's fate in Bihar: Lalu

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Hours before the Durga Pujacelebrations, miscreants desecrated six idols in a temple located in a village of the Satkhira Sadar upazila inBangladesh. According to The Daily Star, Contd. on Page 4

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ANI Dhaka, Oct. 18

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Govt. takes measures to curb alarming 'pulse' prices

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Contd. on Page 3

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timely renovation of neglected Mirmir Chariali-Balek PWD Road, the All Bogong Students’ Union (E) has again submitted an appeal

In reference to their earlier memorandum submitted to Dy. Commissioner East Siang on 11th September last for ○

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Spl Correspondent Pasighat, Oct 18

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DC reminded over renovation of Mirmir Chariali-Balek Road

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Contd. on Page 3 ○

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Duliajan, Oct 18 : Oil employee Roshna Lochan Das, Designation SR.S.S. Officer/ personal secretary odf RCE OIL met accident at Borpother near Bhadoi Panchali, Duliajan to Digboi Road. Later she succumbed to her injures on the way to OIL Hospital,Duliajan. (Correspondent)

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Temple idols desecrated in B'desh village

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The MES unit of Kharsang Miao was held today at circuit house, Miao. This was the first executives meeting after the President and General Secretary was sworned in few weeks back. The main agenda of the meeting was to abreast the elite citizens of Muklom community residing in Miao, Kharsang, Jairampur, Namsai

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and those outside the district from the circles with the aims and objectives of the MES. The meeting was laid open for discussion of various social issues happening in the community to the house by the President MES, Kharsang-Miao unit Shri Langhom Tangha, HDO, Miao. The members like Mr. Longsam Yanchnag, Deputy Chief Engineer, drilling dept,

ET Correspondent Kharsang, Oct 18

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The Assam Agricultural University (AAU) has chalked out a plan to show how the state can be self-sufficient in paddy doubling production.

The plan has taken into consideration different varieties of rice to be grown, including the aromatic one. The Vice-Chancellor of the university Dr Kamal Mallav BujarBaruah said Assam had the capacity

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to produce 120 lakh metric tonnes of paddy from the present level of 52 lakh metric tones in the 24.5 lakh hectors of land under paddy cultivation if a systematic approach was adopted. The vice - chancellor said of 17-lakh hectares under Sali rice (February/ March to August/September) in the state of Assam, 10 lakh hectares should be earmarked for high yielding varieties like ranjtte with an average yield potential of 5.5 tonnes per hectare. That would be a gain

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ET Correspondent Jorhat, Oct 19

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Planning for more information on availing the financial support. The aspirants are also needed to bring along with them the copies of application forms to get the assistance from the concerned department.

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The State Government will provide financial support to those aspirants who have cleared the preliminary examination conducted by Union

who were able to clear the preliminaries in order to help aspirants prepare for the main Civil Service examination conducted by UPSC. The successful aspirants of UPSC prelims exams are to contact the director of the Department of

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Public Service Commission in the year 2015 for recruitment to Civil service belonging to APST. The announcement of the scheme was made earlier

by Chief Minister Nabam Tuki. The scheme is to provide financial support to aspirants

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ET Correspondent Itanagar, Oct 18

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AAU chalks out plan to double paddy production

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Road Mishap

Tirong Aboh ○

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Golaghat, Oct 18: With a view to improve the scientific skills among the school students and to popularise science as a subject, an event titled Junior Science Congress was held at Negheriting in Golaghat on Saturday. In the event several students of the schools in the district participated and demonstrated their science projects. At the end, out of 32 projects, a total of 10 projects were selected.

Golaghat Jatiya Vidyalaya's two projects were selected for the state level competition to be held at Titabor in Jorhat. The projects were of Gitashri Barua, Debangona Goswami, Bhaswat Bhushan, Biswadip Saikia and Aditya Shankar. (Correspondent)

Govt to provide financial help to UPSC aspirants

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Junior Science Congress

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ET CAPSULES

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gone up tremendously. The cost of production is now almost Rs 16/ Kg of made tea while the prices are down Contd. on Page 3 ○

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80 acres of land acquired to construct Meghalaya Assembly ET Correspondent Shillong Oct 19

The Meghalaya Legislative building is yet to start any ground work despite the fact that it has been more than a decade since the old is was

gutted by fire in 2001. The only work initiated is the acquisition of land of 80 acre approximately at New Shillong Township (NST). Presently, the Assembly is holding session at the rented building Contd. on Page 3

Tinsukia mourns death of 3 lawyers in road accident Spl Correspondent Tinsukia, Oct 18

Shock and sadness greeted the death of three lawyers leaving another injured in a road accident that took place on national highway 52 between Kakopather and Dirak in Tinsukia district on Saturday night. The deceased have been identified as advocate Rajesh Rai, Juga Gogoi and Kartick Dutta while Sanjiv Lahkar has sustained serious injuries.

He was taken to civil hospital at Tinsukia where doctors referred him to Assam Medical College and hospital at Dibrugarh. According to sources, the four were returning to Tinsukia from Arunachal Pradesh when the silver coloured Nissan Micra they were travelling in hit a tree and an electric post. The dead bodies of all the three advocates were taken to Tinsukia Bar Association. A wreath laying ceremony was held where judges and lawyers paid their homage to the deceased. Later, their bodies were cremated at Shamshaan ghar.

cmyk

ØThe amount accrued by the 20% tax on excise duties would be used for depositing the annual premium of the benevolent Chief Minister’s Universal Health Insurance Scheme

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ØThe Cabinet decided to create 675 posts under Department of Health and Family Welfare for various health institutions in the state.

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Ø The cabinet further decided to create health cess and also approved increasing the tax levied on alcoholic beverages to 20% in the state

He also created the Dadam CD Block. Another note worthy work he did was to construct a 20 bedded Boys' Hostel at Deomali for the poor students of 56 Khonsa West studying in Wangcha Rajkumar Government College, Deomali under DoTCL. When contacted, the minister said to this reporter that he was a loyal soldier of the Congress party and the state government headed by the visionary and able Chief Minister Nabam Tuki and added that he would work with a missionary zeal and renewed vigour for the speedy development of Tirap district and the state. In the meantime, the people of 56Khonsa West and Tirap district have extended their gratitude to the Chief minister for inducting Tirong Aboh in his cabinet.

The people of 56 Khonsa West and Tirap district are all geared up to accord a warm reception to the newly inducted Minister Tirong Aboh.

Aboh will arrive at Khonsa on 24th October for which elaborate arrangements have been made. It may be added that Tirong Aboh is a first time MLA from the 56 Khonsa West Assembly constituency which is considered to be economically and educationally backward owing to various reasons. Soon after becoming the people's representative Aboh has been successful in including the whole 56 Khonsa West constituency and it's peripheries under BADP.

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ØThe idea is to provide accessible, affordable, accountable, effective and reliable health care, especially to the poor and all sections of the society.

Pages- 12

ET Correspondent Khonsa, Oct 18

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ØThese posts include Specialists Doctors, Medical Officers, Nurses and paramedical staff and shall be rationalised and distributed in all health institutions across thestate

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Adopting zero tolerance towards the health sector, the state cabinet headed by Chief Minister Nabam Tuki in its meeting on Saturday took a few major decisions to strengthen the health delivery system in the state.

Health and education have been accorded top priority by the state government.

Guided by the theme – “Good health for all” and to provide accessible, affordable, accountable, effective and reliable health care, especially to the poor and all sections of the society by pro-

ZERO TOLERANCE VIS-A-VIS HEATH SECTOR ØThe state cabinet headed

by Chief Minister Nabam Tuki accorded top priority to health and education

the annual premium of the benevolent Chief Minister’s Universal Health Insurance Scheme. This move of the state cabinet will permanently secure the CMUHIS as the premium would directly be deducted from the health cess accrued from the taxes. This will benefit the common people of Arunachal Pradesh once they avail themselves of the philanthropic scheme in a seamless manner.

Meanwhile, the Director General of Police briefed the cabinet about the law and order scenario through a detailed power-point presentation. Presenting factual figures, the DGP explained that over-all scenario of the state is peaceful.

viding comprehensive health care which includes promoting, preventive, curative and rehabilitative health services. The Cabinet decided to create 675 posts under Department of Health and Family Welfare for various health institutions in the state.

These posts include Specialists Doctors, Medical Officers, Nurses and para-medical staff and shall be rationalised and distributed in all health institutions across the state.

The cabinet further decided to create health cess and also approved increasing the tax levied on alcoholic beverages to 20% in the state. The amount accrued by the 20% tax on excise duties would be used for depositing

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Tirap district gears up to receive newly inducted minister

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Arunachal Govt decides to create 675 posts in health dept ET Correspondent Itanagar, Oct 18

Price -

Dibrugarh, Monday, October 19, 2015

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Issue 137

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Vol. 1

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08730849369/ 08471896580/ 03736-222269

PAGE 2

DIBRUGARH, MONDAY, OCTOBER 19

TNA will stage fast if President makes u-turn Colombo, Oct 18: The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) has warned that it will stage a fast if President Maithripala Sirisena makes a u-turn on his assurance to the Tamil political prisoners.The Tamil political prisoners had suspended their fast unto death yesterday after the President assured a solution to their concerns.The assurance was conveyed to the prisoners by the TNA, including opposition and TNA leader R. Sampanthan.

The TNA however said that if the President

fails to meet his commitments by November 7 the prisoners will resume their fast and the TNA will also join them.The prisoners have been demanding their release or to be tried for the charges rose against them. Several prisoners detained under the Prevention of Terrorism Act, have not be presented to court.The President has assured that those facing minor charges will be released but the hardcore former LTTE cadres will remain in prison. (Agencies)

ASTRO FOR YOU Decisions about career and finance will keep you preoccupied today. After a hectic day, all you may want to do is relax. Group activity suggests you will make more friends.

Students from the fringe areas of Manas National Park (MNP) showing their creative skill with special focus on available deer species in the wildlife landscape of MNP during a painting competition organised by IFAW-WTI and ONGC with special support from BTC on the occasion of Manas National Park opening for the tourists at Bansbari, Baksa on Saturday,17th October 2015. Photo: Sanatan Deka/IFAWWTI . Pic - Subhamoy Bhattacharjee

Kati Bihu celebrated in Assam In Naharkatia

Bikul Bikash Gogoi Naharkatia, Oct 18: In the midst of various issues and problems, people of Assam have once again celebrated the Kongali Bihu also called Kati-Bihu which has a different flavour as there is less merriment and the atmosphere has a sense of constraint and solemnity.

During this time of the year, usually the farmers who work hard to sow crops in the paddy fields which happen to be in the growing stage have their granaries almost empty. On this day, earthen lamps are lit at the foot of the house-

hold tulsi plant, the granary, and the paddy fields, to protect the maturing paddy from flies and also from evil eyes. The same was seen in Naharkatia with people from all walks of life busy with tulsi planting for puja offering in the evening. Earthen lamps were lined up to be lit in the paddy fields and every household towards the evening. People are in festive mood as they are getting ready to welcome maa Durga as also Kati bihu was celebrated with the same enthusiasm by the people.

In Sivasagar Utpal Sarma Sivasagar, Oct 18: The celebration of ‘Kati Bihu’, the 2nd Bihu of the Assamese people took place at Sivasagar on Sunday like the rest of the state. In the evening, people offered ‘Prasad’ with earthen lamps under the Basil (Tulsi) tree which they have planted with beautifully designed earthen base during the day time. At various places, people gathered in numbers and offered prayers sitting in front of “Tulsi” and recited traditional ‘Naam” or holy prayers seeking the bless-

entire village was razed to the ground.

"The miscreants mounted an attack at dawn. Our house was on fire. They shot my mother and then stabbed her several times with a sharp weapon, I ran away to the nearby forest but had to return again as I could hear my four year old kid brother screaming from the clogged house. I rushed inside the burning house amidst roaring fire all-around. The heat of the blaze peeled off our skin flesh. Grabbing John, I scampered outside, and into the forest and moved deep within, for safety. Three days we roamed together without food or water; I remember we were rescued by police at the end," Ramson Hansey, the elder brother told me, recollecting the horrendous past.

Yesterday, hundreds of people including the relatives of those dead persons, Executive Members of Katbi Anglong Autonomous Council Pradip Signer, Divisional Forest Officer Hamren Division Jotin Sharma, Grater Guwahati Karbi Students' Association President, General Secretary and executive members, hundreds of students and teachers from nearby schools gathered at the place of the massacre where a memorial monolith has been erected surrounded by planted thymes and flowering plants; names of the departed persons engraved in the monolith gamely brought back the memory of the dreadful event. Floral tributes were paid amid a melancholy chorus by the students. The whole memorial park has been surrounded by fencing, while a number of speakers advocated observing the day as ‘Black October’ of Karbi Anglong.

It’s time you took stock of your personal life. Is there someone you want to propose but are afraid to do so? You must not let the fear of rejection stop you from making an effort. There are strong indications that you will be accepted if you speak your heart today. So let him/her know how you feel.

The time to make your dream come true is now.

Today, you are likely to remain open-minded while dealing with others.

However, it doesn’t mean that you will always be soft on others. Later in the day, your approach may be different and stubborn. In the evening, you will enjoy the company of family and friends.

It’s fun, fun and more fun on the horizon! You will take time out for some leisure and frolic today. Broaden your horizon with a bit of travel since you are very likely to be going on a small trip to recharge your batteries. When it comes to work which you seem to have put on hold it is a matter of pride for you to play the role that you essay within your company. But for today, don’t forget the sunscreen.

Today you need to carry on with your success without resting on your past laurels. You will also need to stay focused and organised to continue with the same success level that you enjoyed in the past. Pay attention to your relationship matters as they are the quintessential of your success and peace of mind.

ings of the almighty.

“Akash Banti” or lamps at high poles were too lighted seeking the light of gods upon his sons. Kati Bihu is a symbol of sacrifice

and the agrarian people of the state make themselves ready to welcome the goddess of wealth after a few days from the day with the reaping of the harvest.

In Lakhimpur and Dhemaji

If there’s a knock on your door today, there’s a very strong possibility it might be a marriage proposal. Don’t get startled, and grab opportunities that come knocking (literally!). The stars send you a partner who shall be your match in every way.

You shall also work like a donkey and yet be smart as hell in what you do today. It is favourable if you engage in household activities – gardening, cooking, cleaning and the likes. Work pressure will be displaced by family pleasure.

Running helter-skelter and muddling of affairs is on the menu. Expect not to find even a moment’s peace. But take a break. And dive right back in the chaos and make the most of it.

It’s difficult to keep calm and have a control over your temper in times of distress, but today, you will prove all who surrendered to the whims of adversity wrong. You will be unfaltering in dealing with problems, and will overcome them with ease. At home, you will be content and at peace, and this will also reflect in your work, adding to your already high efficiency.

The day seems normal as you are unlikely to encounter unpleasant situations. The high point of the day will be your consummate skill with which you will handle mundane tasks.

Recalling a horrendously macabre massacre in KA Sushanta Roy Diphu, Oct 18: It was a cursed day of the month of October and the whole of Karbi Anglong was reeling under mayhem and chaos, with hundreds of tribal people mostly Karbi and Dimasa losing their lives in an ethnic clash which broke out in 2005.

But the worst was yet to come, I woke up on hearing my phone ring and the call was from Donkamokum in west Karbi Anglong. The caller informed me that he had just seen a number of dead bodies of men, women and children including infants dripping wet with blood lying on the road close to the villages Charchim and Presack. Telling me to find out the details by myself, my edgy informer cut the line dead; the day was 17th October 2005. That was my initiation to the ghastly climax of the human carnage which later became infamously known as the killing field of Charchim.

Forty two persons were killed by militants who seized two passenger buses including the massacre at Charchim and Presack villages by members of a particular ethnic outfit.

Miraculously, two human souls were able to escape from the human carnage. John Hansey was merely four years and Ramson Hansey was close to seven years when they lost their parents in the attack, and they did not know the whereabouts of their elder brother Bidya Sing Hansey. The whole village and the adjoining areas were set ablaze by militants who did not even spare the domestic animals and the granary. Within just a few minutes, their father Sarbura Hansey, mother Sangway Teronpi were dead, and the

As a manager, you may be able to outclass your colleagues by a great margin. You will soften your approach with time and move towards a more democratic style of decision-making rather than the arbitrary protocol that you are used to. With this, you will taste success and prove your mettle in adverse situations.

Well begun is half done. With this in mind, you will set out to actively seek the cooperation of your colleagues and the sanction of your seniors to tackle some important projects. The evening should find you heading out to watch a movie or doing something creative, like painting.

PRASAR BHARATI (India's Public Service Broadcaster) ALL INDIA RADIO : DIBRUGARH (M.W.529.1m/KHz567 F.M. 101.30 MHz) Ranjit Kakoty Lakhimpur; Oct 18: The people of Assam observed Kati Bihu today with full traditional fervour. After a year, again the farmers of Assam managed to welcome the Goddess of Paddy that is Lakshmi Devi on this very day.

On this auspicious occasion, each and every Assamese family lit the earthen lamps at the paddy fields to propitiate the goddess of paddy. Earthen lamps were also lit before the holy Basil plant in every household. Children and women, youths and aged, irrespective of their age and gender, all enthusiastic people recited the traditional song – “Tulashir tole, Mriga pahu chore, Take dhekhi Ramchandrai dhanu sor dhore” orchestrated with blended notes. It is to be noted that the Kati Bihu, the 2nd kind of Bihu, the National Festival of Assam, is celebrated on the Ashwina Samkranti, that is the

day between the Indian month Ashwin and Kati.

On the other hand the other two Bihus – Bohag and Magh Bihu are celebrated on the Chaitra Samkranti and Pousha Samkranti respectively. It is the indication of three different stages of agricultural life and nature alike. On the day of Kati Bihu, the Assamese people light the earthen lamps at the paddy fields to propitiate the Goddess Lakshmi. They also light the earthen lamps before the Basil plant. In Indian mythology holy Basil is regarded to be the one incarnation of Goddess Lakshmi. The method of celebration of this Bihu is purely spiritual. Yet the lighting of lamp at the paddy field and before the Basil plant has a scientific aspect. The harmful insects of the paddy fields which get infatuated by the fire are killed at a time when the paddy begins to unfurl.

On the other hand, the worshipping of basil is

related to the protection of the environment. It is scientifically proven that basil is the best purifier of polluted air. A mature basil plant can keep the air of an area of twelve cubic feet pure. It proves how scientifically aware those people who introduced the method of worshipping of basil plant. However on this enthusiastic day, no earthen lamps were lit at the paddy fields in the flood stricken area of Western Dhemaji and several parts of Lkhimpur. Several floods of the river Jiyadhol hit the Western Dhemaji and left the paddy fields full of sand. Similarly the same fate was witnessed by most of the farmers of Luhit Khabolu Gaon Panchayat in Lakhimpur District too. Biman Saikia, a diligent farmer of this GP said, “I have cultivated my paddy field thrice. But the recurring floods of River Subansiri smashed my all hopes. So I could not light the lamps at my paddy fields today”.

Phone No.-03732325456 E-mail -dibrugarh@air.org.in Facebook Page-All India Radio Dibrugarh Programme Highlights

19-10-15 (SUNDAY) 5-35 A.M-Bhaktigeeti (Devotional Songs) 6-10 A.M-Swasthya Charcha (Health Programme) 6-15 A.M-Classical Music 7-15 A.M-Aajir Dinto (Morning Information Service) 7-30 A.M-Geetanjali (Assamese Modern Song) 8-35 A.M-Surar Panchoi (Composite Programme of Assamese Film Songs) 9-05 A.M- Antara (Composite Programme of Hindi Film Songs) 12-05 P.M-Ramdhenu (Request Programme of Hindi Fim Songs) 1-10 P.M-Troops Programme 2-30 P.M-Western Music Programme 3-45 P.M-Programme in Miju Mishmi 4-05 P.M-Programme in Khamti 4-25 P.M-Programme in Wancho 4-45 P.M-News for Arunachal Pradesh 5-00 P.M-Programme in Idu 5-20 P.M-Programme in Tangsa 5-40 P.M-Programme in Nocte 7-15 P.M-Yuvavani (Youth Programme)-"Prerona"(A Live Phone-in Programme on Skill Development).Subject-Chartered Accountancy , Expert-Cheniram Bora 8-00 P.M-Drama 9-30 P.M-A Discussion on "Social Values in Changing Time".PtsDr. Rajee Konwar,Pratik Choudhury and Dr. Partha Ganguly 10-00 P.M-Classical Music,Artist-Smti. Dhondutai Kulkarni Sd-/H.O.P

PAGE 3

DIBRUGARH, MONDAY, OCTOBER 19

Multi specialty camp for CWSN benefits hundred

Pasighat Oct 18 : One day multi specialty, free medical assessment camp was conducted today in the Pasighat general hospital Audio-Visual Hall to make available free medical treatments to the Children with Special Needs (CWSN). The camp was organized by the district administration in collabo-

ration with the Department of Health Services and ICDS while transportation charges for lifting of CWSN from various locations and refreshment was borne by the SSA East Siang District Mission. In the camp services of ENT Specialist Dr. B Taki, Orthopedic Dr. J Taloh, Psychiatrist Dr. LC Darung,

Pediatric Dr. Kaling Tatin and Eye Specialist Dr. Beauty Borang were made available for assessment of handicapped persons.

One-day outreach camp was also organized in the same venue by the district administration to facilitate the children and their parents to fill up STC, PRC, I-Card and Biometric En-

rolment for Adhar Card.

The department of ICDS issued NSCP forms for Chief Minister Disability Pension Scheme of Rs. 12/ -pa and ex-gratia depending on percentage of disability under old age pension scheme. DC Isha Khosla formally inaugurated the camp amidst ADC Deepak Shinde, DDSE Obuk Panor, Dy. Director (ICDS) Ponung Ering Angu, specialist doctors and hundreds of CWSN and their parents.

In her inaugural message, Khosla informed that motive of the camp was to extend free medical assistance cum assessment of the CWSN and in continuation of administration’s endeavor to bring other essential services to them for which they are neither able to afford nor have any basic knowledge. She instructed the officers to provide friendly services and urged the parents to avail all facilities being provided in the camp.

DIPRO

Miscreants severely damaged MLA’s properties

Pasighat Oct 18 : Miscreants have severely damaged temporary house and RCC boundary fencing located at Mone, near Upper campus of JN College, Pasighat during wee

ants has been assigned for preparing action plans to be developed Pasighat into smart city having core infrastructure needed to enhance urban living. A twoday “Ideas Camp” has begun here to prepare for the second stage of the City Challenge competition. 20 Cities will be selected in the first lot through competition to be developed as Smart Cities. The consultants have conducted field visits this morning with the PMC Chief Councilor Denong Tamuk and his associates. She asked the executives of DDF Consultants (New Delhi) to take up the Smart City

Kati Bihu is primarily for the peasants Contd. from Page 1

Hence, it is not celebrated; it is observed with nothing more than a silent prayer in the paddy fields and lighting of earthen lamps, in the fields as well as next to the Tulsi plants, planted in a specially designed earth platform called ‘Tulsi Bheti’. In paddy fields, there is a special type of lamp lit up which is called ‘Akash Banti’ (sky candle). These lamps are lit up high on the tips of tall bamboo.

Scientifically these lamps attract insects of the paddy fields and they fell prey to the fire of these lamps. This helps the crops to be healthy and free from insects.

This Bihu is not observed with great jest and zeal because this is the season when cultivators are capricious with thought whether their crops would turn out to be good or not due to insects and some exogenous forces such as rain and extreme heat, as a result which the farmers

and cultivators remain in a perplex state of mind.

Kati Bihu has its significance of its own. This Bihu is more about penance and worship. This Bihu is purely a non-urban bihu but with the passage of time and the advent of modernization and globalisation, nowadays this festival is observed in a quite way. In the true sense of the term it can be said that the mirth and the sense of sacredness related with this bihu have become spurious, more so in urban areas. Some people have even pointed fingers directly at the state government that because them, things have come to pass like this that is the loss of the true essence of Bihu, due to the government's failure to encourage the farmers effectively. In addition, it is unfortunate that news farmer suicide common.

Hence, the people of Assam can pledge that whey would all work unitedly to keep their culture and identity of Assam, and Bihu, its core value and essence intact.

project with their best knowledge and abilities.

The DC has appealed them to review the previous plans and interventions undertaken so far y the administration. “The place has tremendous scopes in tourism, power generation, education and health sectors. Smart City Plans should contain area development action plans and financing plan for the complete life cycle of the proposal, which will be evaluated in the second stage of City Challenge competition for identifying the top ranking 20 cities for financing during the current financial year,” she

said. Khosla directed the officers to submit their best plan/vision immediately and to extend full cooperation to the DDF Consultants making the mission successful. MP Ninong Ering said selection of Pasighat as Smart City was quite reasonable.

“Pasighat is the idle place for Smart City that has vast scope for extension of human habitation up to Mebo, Takilalung, Sille – Oyan, Nari –Koyu etc. It will be appropriate place to be connected with rail, Air and waterways. Granting as Smart City by the union ministry will give sense of ownership and recognition

Itanagar, Oct 18: Showcasing the rich Buddhist culture, the mist-covered mountains surrounding Dirang Valley in West Kameng district woke up to the soothing notes of Buddhist chants and lama dances! The occasion was Bodh-Sanskriti Mahatsav celebrated as part of

as an integral part of India,” he said. He asked the DC to take stern action against the wrong doers during the process for prosperous future of Pasighat. MEO Deepak Shinde presented a detail report on preparation and Director Morang laid stress on government initiatives in this regard. Directors of DDF Consultants Amit Bose, MSN Infra Sudhir Malik and Sr. Manager Puneet Bhardwaj through power point presentation described the concept of Smart City project and also shared their experience and suggestions.DIPRO

Orientation cum induction ceremony of NSS volunteers held at JNC Contd. from Page 1

college auditorium which was attended by Tayek Talom, Principal, Dr. S.D. Choudhury, Vice Principal and encouraged the NSS volunteers.

The programme started with traditional NSS theme song by NSS volunteers. Miss Ing Perme, Programme Officer, NSS delivered the welcome address while Dr. T. Payum, Programme Officer NSS dealt with the length and breadth of the motto, aims, objectives and responsibili-

ties of NSS volunteers in the meeting, while, Dr. K. Kadu Programme Officer, NSS proposed the vote of thanks. Sri S.P Punnia former NSS programme officer of the college also shared his experiences as a programme officer in the meeting. Four volunteers were felicitated for their whole hearted devotion towards NSS activities, namely, Sri TanengTali, B. Com Vth and Miss Rebecca Karlo B. Sc Vth Semester for the session 201415 while Sri Kalut Dai, BA III and Miss Iniya Miku, B. Sc Vth semes-

ter were felicitated as best volunteers in social works. The programme was also attended by Dr. S. N. Jha (HoD Geo), Dr. M.A. Salam (Coord. IQAC), Dr. K.K Mishra, Dr. J.R. Padhi, Dr. D.P. Panda, Dr. K.K. Jha (HoD, Zoo), Sri. N. Darang, Dr. L. Sitang, Dr. P. Priyadarshani (Coord. women cell JNC), Ms.Mumne Perme, Sri S. Kri and 300 other volunteers. Programme was moderated by Sri H. Loyi Asst. Professor in Botany, informed Dr. K Kadu and Dr. T. Payum, NSS Programme Officers.

80 acres of land acquired to construct Meghalaya Assembly Contd. from Page 1

of Arts and Culture at Rilbong, in Shillong. The information gathered through RTI showed that there is no deadline or time framed put forth for completion of constructing the new legislative assembly building.

“There is no time frame fixed by the High Power Committee (HPC) for construction of the new Assembly building”, said a reply from the Public Informa-

tion Officer (PIO) of the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly.The information showed that the budget allocation for the said building is with the state government and the Assembly does not deal with it. “The proposed sanction will be from the state government”, added the reply.

The stately 125-year-old structure that housed the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly at Khyndailad here was reduced to ashes in an inferno on January 9, 2001.

Earlier, the Assembly

while visiting the spot on Saturday afternoon. According to him, probably miscreants wanted to attack him physically but fortunately, “I was not there at night. FIR (Case

no.175/15, U/s 447/427/ 506/341 IPC) has been lodged to the Pasighat police station and police is investigating the matter to unearth,” he also informed. DIPRO

Bodh Sanskriti Mahotsav celebrated with great enthusiasm in Arunachal Pradesh

Selection of Pasighat as Smart City will give sense of ownership: MP Ering Pasighat, Oct 18: A consultative meeting was convened by the East Siang DC Isha Khosla with the DDF Consultants, Pasighat Municipal Council and Head of Offices today in the Siang Guest House conference hall.

Among other prominent personalities, Lok Sabha MP Ninong Ering, Director, TP & ULB Amoy Morang, MEO Deepak Shinde, ZPC Kaling Dai, PMC Chief Councilor Denong Tamuk and his deputy Kaling Darang and HoDs were present on the occasion. Chairing the meeting, DC Khosla informed that DDF Consult-

hours on Friday night, informed Mariyang-Geku MLA Olom Panyang. “It is my own land, given by my father-in-law and I have full right to use it my best,” stated Panyang

Speaker Abu Teher Mondal said that the process for execution of different stages for the new Assembly building has already started. The Speaker said that the Chief Minister Mukul Sangma had agreed to arrange the fund required for the project. According to the Speaker, the functioning of the Assembly is badly hit as the administrative headquarters in Police Bazaar area is not sufficient, while the chamber is at another location in Rilbong.

Centre's plans to organize more Buddhist-centric events to promote the religion circuit tourism as the country ties to foster stronger ties with South East Asia. Organized by the Central Institute of Himalayan Culture Studies, the five-day long event was inaugurated

by Union Minister of state

for home affairs, Kiren Rijiju. Over a thousand people, including Buddhist scholars, art practitioners and lamas flocked to the Dirang stadium to witness one of the grandest religious festivals in the state. Rijiju ensure rapid development of the area to promote tourism.

The region holds enormous

significance for Buddhists across the world. The 400year-old Galden Namgey Lhatse monastery is located in Tawang district and is one of the most important Buddhist monasteries after Potala Palace in Lhasa in Tibet. Tawang is also the birth place of the sixth Dalai Lama. (ANI)

SCCZ Alumni meet held today

Ziro, Oct 18: The Second Alumni Meet of Saint Claret College, Ziro was held here on campus under the auspices of SCAN (Saint Claret Alumni Network). More than 150 Alumni of the college participated in the day’s events which began at 10.00 A.M. with a Technical Session chaired by Rev. Fr. Benoy Joseph, the former Principal. The technical session was divided into two with the first part being SCCZ: Retrospective & Prospective, a briefing by Dr. (Fr.) Paulson Veliyannoor, the Principal, about the College, its achievement and future plans. The second

session was a Group Discussion by the Alumni as to how they can participate efficiently in the College matters. The proceedings of the group discussion were shared in the open forum.

The next event of the day was the ‘Fun ‘n’ Food’ fest, Gastronomia. Each department hosted a Food and Games stall each with a rich variety of ethnic and continental cuisine. The profit made from the sale of items will go out for charitable purpose. The evening was marked by a cultural program, which entertained the audience.

The Chief Guest Rt. Rev. Dr. John Thomas, the

Bishop of Itanagar appreciated the College and called upon the alumni to play a vital role and support the college in its endeavors.

The other guests were, Rev. Fr. Pius Thuruthyil and Fr. John K.J, the Major Superior and the Administrator of the Northeast Claretians, respectively, and Fr. Benoy Joseph, the former Principal. During the Cultural Evening, the 29 Claretine Rank Holders of the University Examinations of 2015 were felicitated and were inducted into the SCCZ Hall of Fame. The Cultural evening concluded with the election of office bearers for the Alumni Council.

Muklom Elite Society (MES) Kharsang Miao unit meeting held Contd. from Page 1

Oil India Duliajan, Miss Minsam Khimhun, a Post graduate student from Namsai, Mr. Mungshum Ngemu, EE, RWD, Sinchung, also attended the meeting inspite of their tight schedule and long distant. Such active participation for the cause of the said community had never happened and winessed in the history of Muklom community among the elite citi-

zens. The General secretary Mr. Longdam Yanchang also briefed the house and opined that the executives members so entrusted in the MES team should not leave any stone unturn to deliver their expertise with a cutting edge prescision to make the MES vibrant and goal oriented NGO across the district in particular and in the state in general. The house has deliberated upon various issues drafted in the Bye Laws of MES and to

implement at the earlist possible to see the tangible results. The meeting ended with vote of thanks from the convenor, Shri Munglong Ngemu who had expressed his happiness over the activeness of the executive members in the whole session of the bussiness hours over do's and don't's and omission and commission to be adopted in the course of MES dealings with the muklom community which requires prunning from all fronts.

DC reminded over renovation of Mirmir Chariali-Balek Road Contd. from Page 1 giving 7 day ultimatum for immediate renovation of the same failing which the union threatens to launch its course of democratic moment, said a release signed by its President Lungkang Ering today.

The union says that, they had appealed the DA through a memorandum which hasn’t been looked into till date despite Bogong area being the

prime land donors of the centurion Town, Pasighat and hence has importance and equal share of attention. “It is indeed a bitter pill to swallow, as we deem our demands genuine and worthy as being the building forefather of Pasighat Township”, added Ering in the release and serves a 7 day ultimatum to the concern authority failing which they will go on with their democratic means of protest.

Meanwhile, it is also pertinent

to mention here that, the PRI leaders of Bogong Banggo (Bogong I and II) led

by Okom Yosung, ZPM Bogong II cum Chairman PPWC and Tamut Tasung, Anchal Samity Chairperson Bogong I in a signed memorandum served had served a 10 day ultimatum to the government on 12th October last on the same issue demanding early renovation of the said road failing which the committee had

PAGE 4

DIBRUGARH, MONDAY, OCTOBER 19

Junior Science Congress event held in Golaghat ET Correspondent Golaghat, Oct 18: To uplift the scientific skills among the school students and to popularize science as a subject an event entitled Junior Science Congress was held at Negheriting in Golaghat.

In the event several students of schools in the district participated and demonstrated their science projects. At the end out of 32 projects total 10 projects were selected.

Golaghat Jatiya Vidyalaya's two projects were selected for the state level to be held at Titabor in Jorhat. The projects were of Gitashri Barua, Debangona Gosw ami, Bhaswat Bhushan, Biswadip Saikia and Aditya Shankar Nath. The projects were guided by Assistant Teacher Akhter Hussain.

Couple killed, son injured in road accident Balasore (Odisha), Oct 18: A couple from West Bengal was killed and their son injured when the car in which they were travelling met with an accident near Soro in this district early today.The couple and their son, aged around 12 years, were proceeding from Kolkata to Puri when the mishap took place and the badly damaged car was found near Chapulia on the National Highway No 5, police officials said.The deceased were identified as Kaushik Ghose (42) and his wife Soumya Ghose (35). The injured boy, Reshab Ghose was admitted to Soro Hospital, they said, adding that they were from Alipur area in Kolkata.Investigation is on to ascertain how the accident occurred.

Literary magazine launched at Morigaon ET Correspondent Morigaon, Oct 18: A new literary magazine by the name 'Abhiyatri' was formally launched at the conference hall of Morigaon Press Club here today at an august programme. The magazine was formally inaugurated by Jayanta Bora, Circle Officer, Morigaon.

Inaugurating the monthly journal, Jayanta Bora said that the new maga-

zine will create a literary environment in Morigaon district. Earlier, explaining the aims and objectives of the journal, Kalpataru Chowdhury, Editor, 'Abhiyatri' said that the editorial board of the magazine will take up the challenge of upholding the standard of the Assamese language and literature at a time when commercial TV channels are posing a serious threat

to the purity of language and literature of Assam.

Speaking on the occasion, Bubumoni Goswami, Human Rights Activist, welcomed the new literary group of Morigaon district for their laudable initiative to publish an Assamese literary magazine from Morigaon district. Addressing the gathering, Mahendra Nath Hazarika, editorial adviser,

Awareness rally on clean and green Assam week in Tinsukia Spl Correspondent Tinsukia, Oct 18 : On the ocassion of "clean and green Assam week" an awareness walk was organizer jointly by Tinsukia district administration and Tinsukia municia board at Tinsukia on Saturday morning.

The walk, that started from Katchujan field was inaugurated by the deputy commissioner of Tinsukia Puru Gupta.

Speaking on the aim of the walk, Sushanto Dutta, executive

magistrate, said that people from all walks of life including school students to sportsman, citizen to media persons participated in the walk. We distributed thousands of leaflet among the persons who came across on the road and business establishments, he added.

Dutta said that leaflets with different theme were used for this purpose. While one leaflet read plant tree and make earth green, other read how aware you are about your

role as a good citizen to keep your town clean, he added.

He said that we have urged public at large to dump garbage between 8.00 pm 6.00 am to keep town clean. "Tree plantation was also a part of the event," Dutta added.

According to sources, the walk crossed through all important parts of the town. In the end Sushanto Dutta thanked all participants for making the programme a huge success.

Bhagwat's quota remark "sealed" BJP's fate in Bihar: Lalu Agencies Patna, Oct 18 : RJD supremo Lalu Prasad, who has milked to the last drop Mohan Bhagwat's call for a review of the reservation policy, feels BJP's fate has been "sealed" by the RSS chief's remarks and claims a 1995-like situation prevails in Bihar when Janata Dal had emerged triumphant in "Mandal versus Kamandal" politics. Under vicious attack from BJP for his "Hindus also eat beef remarks", he says he is a true "gopalak" (one who rears cows) and that his wife and former chief minister Rabri Devi "washes the 'feet' of every new cow that comes home". Sur-

rounded by his supporters and sipping his favourite 'nimbu chai' after a string of election meetings, Lalu shows a book by M S Golwalkar, the second Sarsanghchalak of the RSS-"Bunch of Thoughts". "Golwalkar had said that reservation should be provided on economic basis. The present leadership of RSS is following the thought of its guru (Golwalkar). Dalits and Backwards got reservation after decades of struggle and they want to snatch it now," he told newsmen in an interview. He said there is a "pattern" behind behind Bhagwat s remarks."That is their

original thought process.

Their psyche is against SC/ ST and OBC. What was their inner core came out.They were caught red handed. And we galvanized the SC/ST and OBC against them, telling the weaker sections what the BJP is upto. This has sealed BJP's fate and finished their game, as the beneficiaries of social justice have come together," he said.Despite Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP publicly distancing themselves from Bhagwat s remarks, Lalu said it was not an "off the cuff" statement but a reflection of the "thought process" of the RSS and BJP."The grand alliance

spread the word to every nook and corner of the state and this has led to a polarisation of the deprived classes against the NDA and that sealed its fate," Lalu, one of the most enduring symbols of Mandal politics, said.The RJD chief also attacked Modi for his views on caste system."Modi had written in a book 'Karmyog' that Dalits do manual scavenging for spiritual delight. Why not people from RSS, including Bhagwat, take up this experience of spiritual delight. He is the Prime Minister of the country and he had written that. This is the thought process that wants the Dalits and OBCs to continue to suffer humiliation," he alleged.

Govt. takes measures to curb alarming 'pulse' prices Contd. from Page 1

In its earlier order extending the imposition of stock limits on pulses, edible oils and edible oil seeds, for one year up to 30.09.2016, the government had granted exemption to four categories of stocks i.e. stocks sourced from imports, held by exporters, by licensed food processors and large departmental retailers. The Government has now withdrawn exemptions to stocks of pulses held by

these four categories. Several measures have also been taken for increasing the availability of pulses by banning export of pulses, extension of zero import duty on pulses and also import of 5000 tonnes of pulses from Price Stabilization Fund. To increase production of pulses, the minimum support price for Urad and Arhar dal have been increased to Rs.4625 per quintal and for Moong dal to Rs.4850 per quintal.

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley had chaired a highlevel Inter-Ministerial

meeting and taken major decisions like creation of a buffer stock by procurement and imports of pulses, strict action against hoarders and black marketers, bearing transportation, handling and milling charges of imported pulses from the Price Stabilization Fund and encouraging States to lift stocks of imported pulses, among others. The Cabinet Secretary has also been reviewing the price situation on a daily basis. He directed all Departments to keep a close watch on prices of essen-

tial commodities, especially pulses and work in close coordination with all States to control price rise. All States have been advised to intensify antihoarding operations and keep in check black-marketing and profiteering by traders. 500 tonnes of Tur dal have been allotted to Kendriya Bhandar and 200 tonnes to Safal for distribution through over 400 outlets. Distribution has already started from 16th of October in New Delhi through these outlets.

Tea industry hit by various challenges: NETA chief Contd. from Page 1

by Rs 15-20 as compared to last year at this time. Wages and associated benefits constituted around 60 percent of the total cost of production in the tea sector rise in the cost of other inputs such as electricity, fuel, fertilizers and other key farm inputs, there is no guarantee that

tea price realization will commensurately rise, said the NETA chief. The increase in wages, effective from January 1st this year, with workers wages rising from Rs 94 per day to Rs 115 per day in the first day.

This year the tea production in the Brahmaputra valley decline by 30 million kg, largely because of adverse growing conditions, characterized by de-

ficient /scanty distribution of rainfall, high temperature and pest attack etc. Mr Borkakoty said last year, tea production in Brahmuputra Valley declined by 35 million kg, largely because of adverse growing conditions, characterized by various reasons. Rise in cost of production following significant decline in output has already adversely im-

pacted turnover and operating margins. As there is already talk of the industry having to adhere to the minimum wages act. The state government had registered over 45 cases under the Plantation Labour Act against a number of tea gardens owners for not implementing various schemes, the NETA chairman said.

Swachh Bharat Mission concludes in Sonari ET Correspondent Sonari, Oct 18: Massive cleaning up work under Sonari Development Authority in Sonari town has concluded successfully.

The Centre had provided Rs. 1 Lakh to the authority to take up the cleaning up job under the Swachh Bharat Mission – 2014-15, informed Dilip Gogoi, the Chairman of SDA. The work was taken up from Oct. 10 to Oct. 17 during which the areas in Sonari town and its adjoining areas were cleaned.

`We need to defend better`, says Mourinho ANI London: Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has admitted that his side needs to defend better if they want to bring back good results following their 2-0 win over Aston Villa in their Premier League clash. Earlier,

Chelsea secured their third win of the ongoing campaign when striker Diego Costa scored a first-half goal for his side followed by Alan Hutton'own goal in the 53rd minute of the game.

Mourinho stressed that winning few games

would help to stabilize his side's confidence and would bring them back to their previous position.

Expressing his views on left out midfielder Eden Hazard, the 52-year-old said that the player would be left on the bench until he didn't per-

form like Willian and Pedro. Despite the win, Chelsea continues to remain at the bottom half of the table and are ten points behind leaders Manchester City.

Mourinho-led Chelsea will next lock horns with West Ham on October 24.

AAU chalks out plan to double paddy production Contd. from Page 1

‘To enhance yield in the flood prone hectares, the vice –chancellor recommended staggered planting of gitesh and prafulla with two month old seedling with and average yield of four tonne per hectare. This would mean an increase of 8.80

lakh tonnes. This will add to the present production of 7.20 lakh tones and the total production would be 16 lakh tones. On the other hand the vice chancellor also said that aroma and sticky rice varieties like Kataki, Bokul joha, Aghuni bora should be promoted with an average yield of 3.5 tonnes

per hectare against the present average of 2.3 tonnes per hectare. Also he said sli crop production on 17 lakh hectares of land area will be total of 84.5 lakh tonnes. If the government implements this plan, it shall be in position to increase paddy production in the state to 121.5 lakh tones, making up the shortfall

of 35 lakh tones and producing an excess of 45.5 lakh tones, which can be sold in the national and international markets, on the other hand the government’s duty is to provide good quality seeds, organic ,inorganic fertilizers, plant protection measures and farm machineries and tools as this hour of big climatic change.

Farmer reportedly commits suicide Contd. from Page 1

Chief Minister, Gogoi asked Chief Secretary Vinod Kumar Pipersenia to find out the reasons behind the suicide of

Dibakar Kalita of Tihu area. Mr Gogoi also said the farmers can directly contact the Deputy Commissioners if they face any problem.

The Chief Minister

further directed all the DCs to resolve farmers' issues immediately. Meanwhile in a function to launch a scheme during the day, Gogoi said the state government is

giving top priority in development of the villages. If the productivity of the farmers does not increase, the economy of the state will not grow, he added.

Temple idols desecrated in B'desh village the villagers early today. Deputy Commisthe broken idols of sioner Nazmul Ahsan, D u rg a a n d G a n e s h Additional Superinwere discovered by tendent of Police Mir Contd. from Page 1

Modasser Hossain among other officials have visited the spot.

The investigation of the incident is under-

way and police forces have been deployed in the area to avoid any untoward incident. Further details awaited.

Bhagwat's quota remark "sealed" BJP's fate in Bihar: Lalu Contd. from Page 1

e m e rg e d t r i u m phant in "Mandal versus Kamandal" politics. Under vicious attack from BJP for his "Hindus also eat beef remarks", he says he is a true "gopalak" (one who rears cows) and that his wife and former chief minister Rabri Devi "washes the 'feet' of every new cow that comes home". Surrounded by his supporters and sipping his favourite 'nimbu chai' after a string of election meetings, Lalu shows a book by M S Golwalkar, the second Sarsanghchalak of the RSS-- "Bunch

of Thoughts".

"Golwalkar had said that reservation should be provided on economic basis.

The present leadership of RSS is following the thought of its guru (Golwalkar).

Dalits and Backwards got reservation after decades of struggle and they want to snatch it now," he told newsmen in an interview.

He said there is a "pattern" behind behind Bhagwat s remarks."That is their original thought process.

Their psyche is against SC/ ST and OBC. What was their inner core came out.They were caught red handed.

And we galvanized

the SC/ST and OBC against them, telling the weaker sections what the BJP is upto.

This has sealed BJP's fate and finished their game, as the beneficiaries of social justice have come together," he said.Despite Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP publicly distancing themselves from Bhagwat s remarks, Lalu said it was not a n " o ff t h e c u f f " statement but a reflection of the "thought process" of the RSS and BJP."The grand alliance spread the word to every nook and corner of the state and this has led to a polarisation of

the deprived classes against the NDA and that sealed its fate," Lalu, one of the most enduring symbols of Mandal politics, said.The RJD chief also attacked Modi for his views on caste system."Modi had written in a book 'Karmyog' that Dalits do manual scavenging for spiritual delight. Why not people from RSS, including Bhagwat, take up this experience of spiritual delight. He is the Prime Minister of the country and he had written that. This is the thought process that wants the Dalits and OBCs to continue to suffer humiliation," he alleged.

DIBRUGARH, MONDAY, OCTOBER 19

PAGE 5

REGION

Leaders Walk the Talk, programme designed Maoists abduct for the awakening of the leaders businessmen in

Kohima, Oct 18: Chief Minister T.R. Zeliang described "Leaders Walk The Talk" as a programme that was essentially aimed at awakening Naga leaders as a reminder of the heavy responsibilities bestowed on them.

His speech included references from the Old Testament to dedicate the hard work of the Naga leaders.

Zeliang said that the need of the hour for Nagas today was for 'unity' and this was also the inspiration for the DAN government in adopting the state logo under the theme 'Unity' imprinted.

Against the backdrop of the Naga political issue that has entered a new phase after the signing of the Framework Agreement on August 3 between GoI and NSCN (IM), Zeliang said "we are

Nagaland Chief Minister, T.R Zeliang addressing the Leaders Walk the Talk event on Saturday. badly in need of unity at this crucial time, if the framework agreement is to translate into a conclusive and peaceful resolution of the Naga political issue". He called upon leaders of

Forward Bloc Gen Secy demands declassification of Netaji files Kolkata, Oct 18: All-India Forward Bloc general secretary Debabrata Biswas on Saturday demanded that the Prime Minister announce his government's official decision to declassify all files related to Netaji and INA on the floor of Parliament, and accept the Manoj Mukherjee commission's recommendations, stating among other things, that Netaji did not die in the alleged air crash in 1945, as early as possible. Instead of making such an announcement before some of Netaji's family members, whom he met at his residence in Delhi recently, it is in the fitness of things and in national interest, that the prime minister should inform the nation about his government's decision on the floor of Parliament, Mr Biswas said.

"Making such an important announcement before family members does not reflect the government's stand officially," he added. He said the prime minister should announce in Parliament the acceptance by the NDA government o fthe recommendations of the Manoj Mukherjee commission that

Netaji did not die in the socalled air crash at Taihoku in 1945 and that the ashes kept at Renkoji temple in Japan were not of Netaji's.

The AIFB general secretary said that the Centre should form a special investigation team to examine the files on Netaji, now in the custody of the home ministry and external affairs ministry, in particular, which required to be declassified. Such an SIT, he said, should be headed by a sitting judge of the Supreme Court. The AIFB leader said that the Centre should also convene an all-party meeting to discuss the issue. Besides, Mr Biswas said that the Centre should declare 23 January as 'Deshaprem Diwas' to pay homage to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose. (agencies)

Nagaland, including the political leaders, church leaders, tribal leaders, civil society leaders and the leaders of the Naga nationalist groups etc to rise to the occasion and collectively ad-

dress the needs of the situation which demanded setting aside their differences.

Zeliang pointed out that as youth were increasingly becoming the drivers of the society there was a need also

Bihar polls: EC to review preparations for remaining phases Patna, Oct18: Chief Election Commissioner Nasim Zaidi and two election commissioners will arrive here on Sunday for a twoday visit to the state to review preparations for the remaining phases of Assembly Elections. They will have discussions with Civil and Police authorities and will also meet representatives of political parties here today. They will also review of election ex-

penditure management with CEO, Police, Excise and Income Tax officers.

The Commissioners will visit Muzaffarpur tomorrow and review poll preparedness with DEOs, SSPs, Commissioners, IGs and DIGs. The Commissioners will address a press conference at Muzaffarpur before returning to the national capital.

Polling for the first two phases has already been

Manik Dey flagged off the bus service on Friday at the Tripura Road Transport Corp (TRTC) international bus terminus depot amid much fanfare. Abdul Salam, a Canadian citizen, who originally hails from Bangladesh, said, "I feel proud to know that the bus service will improve friendship between India and

Bijapur, Oct 18 : The Maoists abducted two businessmen from Yampur village of Chhattisgarh's Bijapur district yesterday. The Maoists, also known as 'Naxals', are said to be India's greatest internal security threat. The Maoists claim to be supported by the poorest of the rural population, especially the Adivasis. They have frequently targeted tribal, police and government workers in what they say is a fight for improved land rights and more jobs for neglected agricultural labourers and the poor. The Maoist insurgency gained international media attention after the 2013 Naxal attack in Darbha valley which resulted in the deaths of around 24 Indian National Congress leaders including former state minister Mahendra Karma and then Chhattisgarh Congress chief Nand Kumar Patel. (ANI)

'Communal' BJP creating problem for democracy : Sonia Buxar (Bihar), Oct 18: Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Saturday said no one knows better than Prime Minister Narendra Modi that Hindus and Muslims don't fight, they are made to fight, because if communal clashes ceased to happen the BJP's shop would be shut. "The BJP Government is moving away from democratic practices, and thus, creating a serious problem for our democracy.

The government is imposing its political ideology on the people and weakening the edifice of our communal harmony," she told a rally here. "Communal tension is

being created and people are being killed after spreading rumours. It is a matter of shame for all of us and we should be ready to protect our democracy," said Gandhi, while calling upon the people to wipe the BJP out of Bihar. She said NDA leaders have lost their sleep over poll surveys projecting a win for the Nitish Kumarled Mahagathbandhan.

Stating that over 50,000 people from Bihar, who were associated with diamond trade in Gujarat, had lost their jobs, Sonia sought to know from Prime Minister Modi as what he had done for those jobless youth. (ANI)

Though Conrad has been chosen as the leader of GHPA, his name will have to be approved by the Governor as a nominated MDC Shillong, Oct 18: The process of the formation of the new Executive Committee of GHADC headed by the newly elected leader of Garo Hills Progressive Alliance (GHPA) Conrad Sangma is likely to be completed next week. While the oath taking ceremony of the 29 newlyelected members will be held on Monday, the election of the Chairman has been fixed for October 21 by the Gov-

Bangladesh. It will also improve business and other social activities." Tripura Transport Secretary Samarjit Bhaumik said the security arrangements for the bus have been made in view of recent incidents in Dhaka. "Adequate security arrangements have been made as per the protocol signed between India and

RBI Imphal office inaugurated by CM Ibobi Imphal, Oct 18: Chief Minister Okram Ibobi today inaugurated an office of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) here at Thangmeiband Lilasingkhongnangkhong, opposite to the Manipur Legislative Assembly complex. Speaking at the inaugural function, Ibobi noted that there are still no banking facilities in 27 CD blocks

completed. 57 percent voting was recorded in the first phase and 55 percent was recorded in the second phase of the Assembly Elections. While the third phase is scheduled for the 28th of this month, the fourth phase will be held on the November 1.

The final phase will take place on the 5th of next month. The counting of votes will be taken up on the November 8. (ANI)

Chhattisgarh

GHADC's new executive body headed

by Conrad will dorm by next week ernment, a government official said. After the election of Chairman, the next process will be the official election of the CEM in the House. The 10 MDCs of NPP with the support of 3 GNC members, a lone BJP MDC and three Independents had unanimously elected Conrad as the leader of the alliance on Friday. Though Conrad has been chosen as the leader of GHPA, his name

Volvo service between Kolkata, Agartala via Dhaka begins Agartala, Oct 18: Four months after India and Bangladesh launched a bus service linking Kolkata to Agartala via Dhaka, bus operators here on Friday launched a Volvo bus service between the two cities. The Bangladesh Government has also made special security arrangements for the vehicle by providing on-board police and escort for safe travel in their country. Expressing their happiness on being a part of the first Volvo service from the state, passengers said that it was like a dream coming true. "I came to Agartala with my wife four days back, but wanted to return in Volvo service, thus I got our visas made on Friday. We will be going back by the bus. We are thrilled," said Hara Prashad Ray, one of the passengers.

Tripura Transport Minister

to educate the youths on the use of social media in the right perspective. He said misuse of technology would cause damage to society within a short span of time but if used in a positive manner, the social media could create avenues for more employment in government and private sectors as well. Minister of Roads and Bridges Vikheho Swu said the leadership quality of a person could be gauged by how he impacted his team as leadership was not inherited but earned by one's efforts. He also pointed out that Nagas have not shown qualities in planning, management and vision and have mismanaged four principles of progress such as -Christianity, Education, government/governance. (Agencies)

loca- ted in interior areas of the hill districts of Manipur. Taking due note of the difficulties faced by people of these interior areas due to absence of banking facilities, Ibobi exuded that RBI would take up necessary measures to address these problems.

Construction of necessary infrastructure for all SDO/BDO offices would

Bangladesh. There will be two Bangladesh security personnel on board in the vehicle when it plies across Bangladesh. Besides, a special arrangement has been made in view of some recent violence incident in Dhaka. Now, a security vehicle will be escorting the bus right from Akhaura via Dhaka down to Benalpole, Petrapole," said Bhaumik.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Bangladeshi counterpart Sheikh Hasina had jointly flagged off the Dhaka-Shillong-Guwahati and the Kolkata-DhakaAgartala bus services during former's visit to Bangladesh on June 6.

While the Dhaka-ShillongGuwahati service is yet to start, the Kolkata- DhakaAgartala service began operating, while only West Bengal and Bangladesh are plying their buses. (ANI)

be completed within the current financial year. Among others, SDO/ BDO offices would have bank branches, staff quarters as well as security barracks which can accommodate at least 30 security personnel. Since five/six years back, the State Government adopted e-transaction mode for all kinds of money transfer (receipts and payments).

How- ever, the State Government has been experiencing certain difficulties due to inadequate banking facilities in such matters like disbursing old age pension. Ibobi then appealed to

will have to be approved by the Governor as a nominated MDC. Meanwhile, NPP leader PA Sangma has denied reports that three Independents Mark Goera Marak from Batabari, Devier Sangma from Gasuapara and Kurosh Marak from Barengapara who had pledged support to the GHPA alliance withdrew from the coalition. . "We are all intact. Everything is alright and there is no truth

Rosogolla becomes bitter in Bengal Odisha row

in such reports", Sangma said over phone from Tura.

Sources said that NPP was in fact following the pattern of state legislature and Parliament since a person who is not elected by adult franchise is chosen first as the leader of the ruling coalition. While any person will have to contest elections within six months in case of state legislature and Parliament, in the case of Conrad Sangma , he can continue

as CEM since he will be a nominated MDC. This is perhaps for the first time that a nominated MDC is all set to head the Council.

NPP leader PA Sangma said that the time period of six months is also applicable in the case of district councils. The option before the new CEM now is either to be a nominated member or get elected from a vacant seat within six months, Sangma added. (Agencies)

Kolkata, Oct 18: The war over rosogolla between Odisha and Bengal has just got a bit more bitter.

In the wake of Odisha's latest claim that the famous sugary delicacy of eastern India originated in the state over 600 years ago, a West Bengal minister has again asserted Bengal's sole proprietorship over it. There is "ample" documentary evidence to prove the sweet belongs to Bengal, R a b i r a n j a n Chattopadhyay said on Saturday. "No other state has the 'golla' (roundish sweets). It is exclusive to Bengal and though Odisha has said that rosogolla originated 600 years ago there, they have not shown any documentary proof," West Bengal's science and technology minister said. Escalating the ongoing row between Odisha and Bengal over origin of rosogolla, an Odisha minister recently said a committee going into the root of the matter has discovered that the syrupy delicacy originated in the state 600 years ago. The Odisha government has set up three committees to look into the evidence regarding the origin of rosogolla in Odisha. Odisha is claiming that rosogolla was first served at the 12thcentury Lord Jagannath temple in Puri, while Bengal only traces it back to 150 years. West Bengal has already submitted the application for a GI (geographical indication) tag for the rosagolla to stake claim on the delicacy and beat Odisha.

Chattopadhay said the state has submitted detailed dossiers with the GI tag application. "There is adequate, ample evidence from Bengal," he added.

West Bengal is claiming that Nabin Chandra Das had introduced the sweet in 1868. (agencies)

Uproar in Duncan Tea Plantation over bonus Darjeeling, Oct 18: The Darjeeling superintendent of police Mr Amit P Javalgi has expressed concern over the ongoing unrest in the Duncans' tea plantations, apprehending law and order problems over the issue of bonus at the rate of 8.33 per cent while the while management of most tea plantations have assured 20 per cent. Workers in the 16 tea plantations are united and they have refused to accept the present rate. "This may lead to a serious law and order problem. It is the only in the tea plantations under Duncans group and the plight of the workers is worrisome. A serious watch is being kept regarding security but unless the management responds it will be difficult to find a solution," said Mr Javalgi said. According to Mr Javalgi, a case has been lodged under Section

406/409 IPC against Mr GP Goenka and Mr Drivardhan Goenka and seven others by the enforcement officer of Employees' Provident Fund Organisation in Siliguri for non-payment of general provident fund of plantation workers. A notice was issued and the manager appeared before the authorities and assured some payment has been made. Another notice was issued to GP Goenka and his son in Kolkata under Section 41A Cr PC for appearance this week.

"There are other serious issues like non-payment of gratuity from last three years, delay in payment of monthly and daily wages and even the manager is not paid salary for months. Ration is not being given for last few months," the Darjeeling SP pointed out. The district magistrate Darjeeling Mr Anurag Srivastava said that

the RBI to provide assistance in opening bank branches in all the 27 CD blocks where any kind of banking facility is still non-existent. He also assured that the State Government would take the responsibility of infrastructure development as well as security requirements. The State Government was asking RBI to open an office at Imphal since the past four years. In response, RBI demanded a plot required for opening the office.

Manipur Legisla- tive Assembly Speaker for the time being, Ibobi stated. He also launched a webpage

there were a total of 16 tea plantations under Duncans group in north Bengal and around 25,000 workers are associated with these gardens. "All these gardens have witnessed default of wage payment, ration payment and other legal dues despite several assurances from the management that this will be regularised. In some gardens like Ganguram in Phansidewa block, wages were not paid regularly after April 2015. The state government is undertaking National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme; ration supply, medical checkups to avoid any crisis. Field officials have been directed to visit these gardens regularly but the management is yet to do their due," the DM Darjeeling said. "This is not the proper way of solution.

Though the state labour directorate is trying hard to

of RBI Imphal. RBI Deputy Governor Harun R Khan, Chief Secretary O Nabakishore, RBI Executive Director Dr Deepali Pant Joshi, Regional Director SS Barik and RBI Imphal General Manager Thangzamuan Hauzel were also present at the inaugural function. In view of the hilly terrain and the associated transport bottlenecks, RBI has started taking up special measures for the North East region particularly in the fields of financial inclusion, financial literacy and credit delivery, informed the RBI Deputy

resolve the ongoing problems, both the Central and state commerce and industry departments are reluctant to resolve the problems of premium 16 tea plantations in north Bengal," said Ziaul Alam, spokesperson of Joint Forum, a conglomeration of 23 trade unions. "This corporate house has committed heinous and social crime misappropriating workers' earned wages.

Virtually all 16 premium tea plantations are closure but officially it is neither closure nor has the management issued any notice for suspension of work. Management cannot do it because Duncans is under Board of Industrial and Financial Reconstruction (BIFR)," Mr Alam said, adding, "Despite the fact both the Central government and state government are facilitating Goenka group so that it can go with its own design." (agencies)

Governor. Noting that the rate of credit deposit ration and credit to GDP or GSDP ration is low in the Northeastern States, he, nonetheless, assured that mobile banking, kiosk banking, business correspondence and other forms of banking facilities would be introduced and enhanced in the North East region. For introducing all these banking facilities, digital connectivity is crucial. That is why, RBI has been working to install V-Sat systems in the region, Harun R Khan said. (Agencies)

DIBRUGARH, MONDAY, OCTOBER 19

R.S. Prasad blames Mulayam for Dadri incident New Delhi, Oct. 18 : Union Communications and Information Technology Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad on Sunday downplayed the article published in RSS mouthpiece Panchjanya and held Samajwadi Party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav responsible for the Dadri lynching incident."No one is supporting the Dadri incident.

The Prime Minister has expressed his grief over the incident. This is the responsibility of Mulayam Singh Yadav. It has happened under his government," he said.The RSS mouthpiece in its latest edition has criticised the writers, who

have returned their awards in the wake of the incident in Dadri where a man was lynched over rumours of storing beef at his residence.It alleges that madrasas and the Muslim leadership teach Indian Muslims to hate the country's traditions.

"Akhlaq (the Dadri victim) perhaps slaughtered a cow under the influence of such bad deeds," it states.

Panchjanya's editor Hitesh Shankar, however, today negated the publishing of any such article."I don't remember any such article that supports violence being published in Panchjanya," he told media. (ANI)

NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL

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Delhi cops to have fingerprinting equipment to boost probe capabilities New Delhi, Oct 18: Delhi Police is all set to procure a cyanoacrylate fuming cabinet for safe and controlled development of latent fingerprints, in order to improve its investigative capabilities. Latent fingerprints are impressions on a surface which are not visible to the naked eye, caused by perspiration derived from sweat pores in the ridges of the fingers."A cyanoacrylate fuming chamber provides a controlled environment for processing latent fingerprints on most non-porous surfaces while eliminating exposure to hazardous fumes," said a senior offi-

cial at the Finger Print Bureau of Delhi Police. Cyanoacrylate, popular as super glue, can bring to fore latent prints which could not be seen even after applying magnetic fingerprint powder, said the official, adding that cyanoacrylate fuming method also does not alter or destroy prints, which happens many a time after the application of finger print brush.Also, finger prints are extremely fragile and whatever left of them can dry out very fast in high temperatures with low humidity. Fuming can also preserve fingerprints on some surfaces, said the official.A medium capacity cy-

anoacrylate fuming cabinet will cost Delhi Police around Rs 37.50 lakh.

"Once it starts functioning,

a smaller version shall be ordered for the Crime Branch," said the senior official. Purchase of the cy-

anoacrylate fuming cabinet is also expected to be followed by the induction of vacuum fuming chambers - which use the same technique for developing latent prints - especially designed for fuming rifles and shotguns under controlled conditions."The vacuum fuming chamber will especially be helpful in cases in which arms are recovered," said the senior official.

Fuming method has the potential to extract latent fingerprints from central shelves, railings, hangers, baskets, trolleys and a wide range of things. It is also very useful in extracting finger prints from rub-

RSS attempting to polarise Thousands flee as Typhoon people on cow issue: Congress Koppu hits Philippines New Delhi, Oct 18 (ANI): Congress leader Sandeep Dikshit today voiced his apprehension over Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) mouthpiece Panchjanya's defence of the Dadri lynching incident and said that it was an attempt to polarise people on the cow issue.

Dikshit said something quoted years ago in the Veda has no relevance now."If it is ever quoted, it has been said in a particular context. And to quote anything out of context makes no sense. In any case, something that has been quoted years ago has no relevance today. In India, cow slaughter is banned in almost all states," Dikshit told

Four Naxals held in Chhattisgarh Raipur, Oct 18: Four suspected Naxals were arrested during a search operation by security forces in Chhattisgarh's insurgency-hit Bijapur district, police said today.

The cadres were apprehended by a joint team of security personnel from Karremarka village forest under Farsegarh police station limits yesterday, Bijapur Additional Superintendent of Police Indira Kalyan Elesela told media. A joint team of district force and Chhattisgarh Armed Force (CAF), while undertaking the search operation in Farsegarh area, spotted some suspects near Karremarka and nabbed them after a short chase, he said. During interrogation, they admitted to being associated with the red-movement, he said. Those arrested have been identified as Madkam Hunga (25), Podiyami Manglu (25), Udde Vella (25) and Podiyami Pandu (25).

They are allegedly involved in various crimes, including attempt to murder, dacoity, damaging roads among others, he said. Of the four Naxals arrested, three were working as janmilitia members, whereas Vella was active in the banned organisation as member of Dandakaranya Adivasi Kisan Mazdoor Sangathan (DAKMS), the ASP said, adding that their interrogation was on. (Agencies)

media.The RSS mouthpiece in its latest edition has criticised the writers, who have returned their awards in the wake of the incident in Dadri where a man was lynched over rumours of storing beef at his residence.It alleges that madrasas and the Muslim leadership teach Indian Muslims to hate the country's traditions.

"Akhlaq (the Dadri victim) perhaps slaughtered a cow under the influence of such bad deeds," it states.Questioning the silence of writers, it asks them why they have been quiet on this issue. "Vedas order killing of the sinner who kills a cow. It is a matter of life and death for many of us)," states the article. (ANI)

Kejriwal Asks DMRC to Increase Overall Metro Frequency New Delhi, Oct 18: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has asked DMRC to increase frequency of metro trains in both peak and non-peak hours and said his government will bear any loss that may arise out of this move.The AAP government has also decided to provide bus services at a frequency of 2-5 minutes on the city's 10 road stretches to be redesigned soon."I have asked DMRC to increase train frequency.

Metro has informed the government that in the past one month, DMRC has inducted 125 new trains in its fleet, but it is not sufficient."I recently sent some of my volunteers to check the status of frequency of metro trains and I got to know that at 6 AM, there is a frequency of 7 to 15 minutes between two trains," Kejriwal said here.He said several persons told him that they have stopped traveling by Metro because of the heavy rush.DMRC chief Mangu Singh has told the government when less than seven people occupy one sq m in the metro, they decrease the frequency, the Chief Minister said."I have asked him

to run trains at peak frequency for three months. If there is no crowd even at 6 AM, DMRC should also run trains in peak frequency and Delhi government will pay for any loss the metro suffers," he said.PWD Minister Satyendar Jain said that government has decided to provide high-frequency bus services on 10 roads to be redesigned by the department.The 10 roads to be redesigned are from Janakpuri to Sarai Kale Khan, Wazirabad to Sarai Kale Khan, Mukarba chowk to Singhu Border, Wazirabad to Apsara Border, Nizamuddin Crossing (Ring Road 2) to UP Border, Wazirpur DTC Depot to Rithala Metro Station, Brit-

annia Road to Outer Ring Road (West Enclave), Shiv Das Puri Marg (Ring Road) to Patel Nagar, Mangolpuri to Kanjhawala, Nawala Cross Road (Road number 41) to Road Number 41 A (Patparganj)."Government has planned to provide high-frequency bus services on these 10 redesigned roads. People will be able to get buses on these stretches at every 2-5 minutes. Government will also create a dedicated bus lane on this stretch," Jain said.He also said that in order to provide last mile connectivity, government will provide feeder bus services and CCTVs will also be installed on these 10 roads.

(Agencies)

Manila, Oct 18: Powerful Typhoon Koppu wrecked houses, tore down trees and unleashed landslides and floods, forcing thousands to flee as it pummelled the northern Philippines today, officials said.At least eight people have been reported missing and rescue operations are underway in the rice-farming province of Nueva Ecija where rivers burst their banks and flooded several villages, regional authorities said."People are asking for help because the floodwaters are rising. The rescuers cannot penetrate the area as of now," Nigel Lontoc, the assistant civil defence chief for the region, told media.The social welfare department said more than 15,000 people had already been evacuated from Koppu's path and officials said more are expected to flee as the storm grinds its way northwards across the main island of Luzon before it is forecast to leave the country on Wednesday.Koppu made landfall before dawn on the coast of Casiguran, a

remote fishing town of 31,000 people, remaining near-stationary for seven hours and whipping the area with gusts of up to 210 kilometres (130 miles) an hour."Koppu tore off roofs of homes made of light materials. Rivers overflowed, and the roads to the area are blocked by downed power pylons and trees," Lontoc said.By late morning the typhoon's intensity had weakened slightly to gusts of 185 kilometres an hour while moving northwest over the Pantabangan Dam in the southern foothills of the Cordillera, the country's largest mountain range.Three people in the coastal resort town of Baler, near Casiguran, are missing after a large wave struck their house, Lontoc said, and three fishermen are also missing on Manila Bay.Despite the storm weakening, the authorities warned heavy rains could also trigger flash floods and landslides in the Cordillera, home to more than 1.6 million people and known for its spectacular rice terraces carved on the

slopes of towering mountains."I must emphasise that this is just the start. People must remain alert while we try to pick up the pieces in areas already hit," Alexander Pama, head of the National Disaster Risk Reduction Council, told media.State weather forecaster Alczar Aurelio said Koppu was expected to weaken further into a severe tropical storm

by Tuesday, but would only leave Luzon, home to half the Asian archipelago's 100 million people, by Wednesday.Ferry services across Luzon were suspended amid rough seas while commercial aviation was also disrupted with 30 flights cancelled, two of them on international routes.The Philippines is hit by an average of 20 storms each year, many of them deadly.The deadliest and strongest on record, Super Typhoon Haiyan, destroyed entire towns in the central islands in November 2013, leaving more than 7,350 people dead or missing. (Agencies)

is affecting the country's relation with the Arab states. According to the Dawn, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the petition pleaded that the matter concerns the foreign relations as falconry has been

a significant part of its relations with Middle Eastern countries.The petition stated that permits to hunt the bird were given only after following a strict procedure, issued by the Foreign Ministry. On August

Ex-Uber driver imprisoned over rape, kidnap charges Sydney, Oct 18: A former Uber driver has been sentenced to 12 years in jail for raping and kidnapping a woman in Boston.

Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan said that Alejandro Done, 47, pleaded guilty to aggravated rape, kidnapping and assault. Ryan encouraged people to take precautions when using any ride-sharing service. On December 6 last year, Done drove his victim to a secluded place where he locked the car doors to prevent her from escaping and climbed into the back seat. There, he hit her, strangled her, covered her mouth so she could not scream and sexually assaulted her. (ANI)

Maoists abduct businessmen in Chhattisgarh Bijapur, Oct 18: The Maoists abducted two businessmen from Yampur village of Chhattisgarh's Bijapur district yesterday.

The Maoists, also known as 'Naxals', are said to be India's greatest internal security threat. The Maoists claim to be supported by the poorest of the rural population, especially the Adivasis. They have frequently targeted tribal, police and government workers in what they say is a fight for improved land rights and more jobs for neglected agricultural labourers and the poor.The Maoist insurgency gained international media attention after the 2013 Naxal attack in Darbha valley which resulted in the deaths of around 24 Indian National Congress leaders including former state minister Mahendra Karma and then Chhattisgarh Congress chief Nand Kumar Patel. (ANI)

Don't depute teachers for census work: Delhi government to schools New Delhi, Oct 18: The Delhi government has directed the principals of its schools to not depute teachers for census duty with the National Population Register (NPR) as it would adversely affect the functioning of schools. "A circular in this regard has been sent by the Directorate of Education (DoE) to the schools asking them to put off the deployment of teachers for census work till further orders," a senior DoE official

told media. According to the circular, "Many teachers have already joined the respective NPR offices without seeking necessary approvals of the concerned Deputy Directors of Education (DDEs) for this duty".

"The department is already facing acute shortage of teaching staff and consequent upon their deployment functioning of the schools has jeopardized badly," it said. "It is therefore ordered that no official

or teaching staff should be deployed for NPR duty till further orders," it added.

The deployment of teachers for a range of activities that aren't teaching-related has been severely criticized before. The Lok Sabha and Delhi assembly elections, for which they were deployed as Booth-Level Officers, kept teachers out of classrooms for days at a time. Some educationists even linked this to the massfailure of ninth and eleventh

Bird hunting' ban affects relations with Arabs: Pak Karachi, Oct. 18: The Pakistan Government has filed a review petition in the Supreme Court to reconsider its judgment on the ban over hunting a bird named 'houbara bustard' by foreign dignitaries, as it

ber surfaces and paper documents.The fuming chamber will be useful in a wide variety of investigations ranging from a murder to burglaries, like the infamous burglary case at Holy Child Auxilium for which Delhi Police had sent fingerprint samples to CBI and fingerprint bureaus in all states and UTs.It would also help in probing white-collar crimes involving exchange of secret documents like the corporate espionage case in which the police had recovered 168 confidential documents related to several ministries, the official said.(Agencies)

19, Pakistan's apex court had ordered both federal and provincial governments to deny the grant of licences and permits to hunt the endangered bird.

Falconry is not a sport but has been recognized as a

cultural heritage of Arabs by the UNESCO, the petition added. The provincial governments of Punjab, Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, under respective wildlife laws, have the statutory power to re-

move any category of wildlife from the list of the protected animals. And these laws have not been stuck down by the apex court as unconstitutional after the ruling, the petition argued.

(ANI)

graders in April 2015. There are 946 schools in the national capital run by the Delhi Government. The National Population Register (NPR) is a register of residents of the country. It is being prepared at the local (village/sub-town), sub-district, district, state and national level under provisions of the Citizenship Act 1955 and the Citizenship (Registration of Citizens and issue of National Identity Cards) Rules, 2003. (Agencies)

DIBRUGARH, MONDAY, OCTOBER 19

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NEIGHBOURS

JMB killed a dozen religious scholars in two years - See more at Dhaka, Oct 18: Members of banned militant outfit Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB), who were unpopular for systematic attacks on secular groups and individuals a decade ago, have now resorted to targeted killings, detectives said yesterday.In the last two years, they killed at least 13 religious scholars, pirs and shrine followers across the country by forming a number of small units of sleeper cells, a high official of the Detective Branch of police told the media. JMB leader Faruq is the leader of the wing that carries out the attacks. He also led the snatching of three JMB men from a police van last year. Detectives said that Faruq might have left the country with absconding JMB leaders Boma Mizan and Salehin. Involvement of the militant leader in the recent killings has been found during interrogation of its detained organiser Tariqul Islam Mithu. He was held in connection with the murder of former Power Development Board chairman Khijir Khan.Mithu told the investigators that he and six other JMB members had taken part in the killing of Khijir, a

Prez election begins in week Kathmandu, Oct 18: The process to elect the new President and Vice President will start at the first meeting of Legislature-Parliament after Dashain, which has been scheduled for October 24. According to the Parliament Secretariat, the meeting will announce the schedule for the election of the head and deputy head of state. It is likely that two days will be allotted for unanimous selection of the candidates. If there is no consensus among the parties, vote for the posts will be held on October 27. Article 297 (2) of the constitution requires the election of the President and the Vice President within a month of commencement of the parliamentary session on the basis of political understanding. If there is no understanding among the parties, Article 297 (3) mandates a majority process of election. The House session started on October 2, which means the process to elect the top officials should start by the end of October. According to officials, the vote would be scheduled after consultation with Speaker-elect Onsari Gharti Magar. Candidates need a minimum of 299 votes in the House to win.

Meanwhile, Magar will take the oath of office from President Ram Baran Yadav today afternoon. (Agencies)

8 militants killed in Pakistan Karachi, Oct 18: Eight militants have been killed today by police during a fierce gun-battle in Pakistan's biggest city Karachi, authorities said. The militants were killed when a special team of elite police commandoes raided their hideout near the Northern Bypass in the Manghopir area. "On seeing the raiding party these militants resorted to heavy firing in which the area SHO Ghulam Hussain and a constable Anwar Khan were wounded," senior police official Rao Anwar told reporters. During the exchange of fire, eight militants were gunned down, Anwar said. "It appears these militants were planning some terrorist attacks on the occasion of Muharram," he said. The government has stepped up security in all four provinces with the start of the month of Muharram. (Agencies)

spiritual leader."It is our religious responsibility to not ask the identities of the other members of the team.

We met just a couple of hours before the murder.

But I will be able to recognize them if they are produced before me," an official of DB police said requesting not to be named.Khijir Khan was slaughtered on October 5 by unidentified assailants at his residence in the capital's Badda area. The police have so far arrested two people in the killing, one of who directly slaughtered Khijir, and a driver. Mahfuzul Islam, additional deputy commissioner of DB police, said: "We are trying to find out Mithu's associates by analysing the information he provided."The JMB, formed in 1998 mostly with former Jamaat-e-Islami men aiming at establishing Islamic rule in the country, was banned on February 23, 2005 along with its sister concern JMJB. Both the founders were executed in 2007. The law enforcers found that all the extremist groups were working together since last year as their aim is the same.According to the detectives, JMB's sleeper cell

members are using machete and knives to kill their targeted people rather than using firearms and bombs as they believe slaughtering people is a precious work.

The outfit is also collecting funds by conducting robbery to run their activities.During the murder of Khijir Khan on October

5, the killers though that he had a large amount of cash and properties in his house.DB Joint Commissioner Monirul Islam said that the JMB men consider worshipping mazars and pirs as a bad work.Police also recovered a small piece of paper from Mithu's possession where the name of

another pir was found.According to the investigators, the JMB men are now operating their activities in at least 12 regional groups. When they need to contact each other they use code language and never disclose the names to others.On September 4, a JMB member

killed Chittagong's Lengta Fakir (naked saint) Rahmatullah and his associate Khadem Abdul Kader at the mazar in Bayezid area. Police have arrested five JMB members for their involvement in the killings.On October 5, JMB men tried to kill Christian priest Luke Sarker in Pabna.

Police arrested four JMB members for the attempted murder and they also confessed to their involvement.On December 21, 2013, pir Lutfar Rahman and five others were killed by the JMB men in the capital's Gopibagh area. Presenter of Islamic programmes and Ahle Sunnat leader Nurul Islam Faruqi was killed in the capital's Rajarbagh area on August 27 last year.On August 8, 2013, religious leader Taibur Rahman and his son Namum Manir were slaughtered in Khulna. Monirul Islam, also the chief of DB police, suspects that the same JMB group was behind the Gopibagh and Rajarbagh killings. "We are hopeful to glean clues from Mithu during interrogation.

We will also present four other JMB leaders in front of him for identification," he added. (Agencies)

Myanmar gov't, ethnic armed groups form 2 joint committees to implement ceasefire deal Yangon, Oct 18: The Myanmar government and ethnic armed groups have formed two joint committees in a series of their meetings over the last two days to implement the Nationwide Ceasefire Accord (NCA) following its signing on Thursday.The two joint committees are the Joint Ceasefire Monitoring Committee which is to prevent recurrence of armed clashes, and the Union Peace Dia-

logue Joint Committee which is to facilitate political dialogue.Both sides also agreed to strive for enabling other remaining armed groups which have not signed the NCA to take part in and complete the peace process.The two sides decided to meet again in mid-November and arrange political dialogue.The two sides are set to draw up a political framework within 60 days after the formal NCA

signing and start a political dialogue within 90 days.The Myanmar government and eight ethnic armed groups out of 15, involved in peace deal with the government, initiated the Nationwide Ceasefire Accord (NCA) in Nay Pyi Taw on Thursday, witnessed by local and international observers.The eight groups are Kayin National Union (KNU), Kayin National Liberation Army (KNLA)-Peace Council, Pa-

O Nationalities Liberation Organization (PNLO), All Burma Students' Democratic Front (ABSDF), Chin National Front (CNF), Arakan Liberation Party (ALP) , Democratic Kayin Buddhist Army (DKBA) and Restoration Council of Shan State (RCSS) / Shan State Army-South (SSAS).The other seven remaining groups out of the 15 which have not signed the NCA are Kachin Indepen-

dence Organization (KIO), Kayinni National Progressive Party(KNPP), National Democratic Alliance Army (NDAA), New Mon State Party (NMSP), National Socialist Council of NagalandKhaplang (NSCN-K), Palaung State Liberation Front (PSLF), Shan State Progressive Party/Shan State Army-North (SSPP/ SSA-N) and United Wa State Army (UWSA).

(Agencies)

Sri Lanka says would consider allowing visit by China navy ships again Beijing, Oct 18: Sri Lanka would consider allowing Chinese naval ships to visit again but no request has been forthcoming yet, the country's defence minister said today. Sri Lanka's previous government had caused concern in India with its close ties to Beijing, including allowing Chinese submarines to dock. New Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena has unnerved China though with his re-examination of relations, including a $1.5billion Chinese-invested "port city" project in the capital Colombo.Visiting Beijing in February, Sri

Lanka's foreign minister said future visits by Chinese submarines were unlikely.But Sri Lankan Defence Minister Karunasena Hettiarachchi, who only took up his post last month, told Reuters in Beijing that he would give serious thought to new requests from China for naval ships to call, even if there are no plans currently."It has not come to my table yet. If it comes I'll give it due consideration. If it comes in the right track we'll consider it seriously," he said on the sidelines of a military forum."If it is really interesting and worthwhile, some-

times we do combined operations and exercises with military vessels from around the world, no

discrimination."China has built a seaport and airport in Sri Lanka's south, raising fears it is seeking influence

in a country with which India has traditionally had deep ties.China's defence minister told the head of the Sri Lankan navy in June he wanted to ensure a "continuous and stable" development of military ties.Hettiarachchi said his government was just trying to make sure it was being transparent in its relations with China, and that military ties should remain strong."There was a complaint about the previous regime about transparency but I think we are more transparent and our relations are going to be stronger in times to come." (Agencies)

Voting at Myanmar embassy in Singapore extended to Oct 21 Singapore, Oct 18: Hundreds of Myanmar citizens were lining up in Singapore to cast advance ballots in the country's Nov 8 parliamentary election.The large turnout has overwhelmed the embassy staff, prompting officials to extend voting that was supposed to end today by three days.The election is believed to be formerly junta-ruled country's best chance in decades at relatively free and credible polls. Seeking better earning opportunities, many Myanmar nationals have taken up jobs in nearby countries such as Singapore.One such 26-year-old man standing in line, Than Han, said voters hope for a "very big change" in the country .Most observers believe Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy will win the most seats in parliament, and could control a majority by forming a coalition with smaller parties. (Agencies)

Durga idols vandalised in Satkhira Dhaka, Oct 18: Miscreants have vandalised three idols of Hindu Goddess Durga at a puja mandap on Babolia high school premises in Sadar upazila early Sunday.Babolia High School Sarbojanin Durgapuja Udjapan Committee President Arabinda Mandol said painting of three idols ended in the mandap on Friday night and they covered those with a piece of cloth.When some locals assigned there to ensure security left the area for domestic chores around 3:30am Sunday, the unidentified miscreants run the vandalism on the idols.Being informed, Sadar police station Officer-inCharge Emdadul Hoque Sheikh visited the spot and Satkhira Deputy Commissioner Nazmul Ahsan was supposed to pay a visit there as well. They assured of taking legal action as early as possible against the culprits for the offence.Pointing at another such incident took place in Protapnagar Karmokarpara Durgapuja Mandap inAssasuni upazila on October 6, Satkhira unit Hindu-Buddha-Christian Oikkya Parishad General Secretary Swapan Kumar Sheel termed the latest vandalism a planned misdeed. (Agencies)

Dashain brings no shopping attraction in Kathmandu

Kathmandu,Oct 18: Market places in Kathmandu have seen no shopping fervor since Dashain - the great festival of Nepali people - was already round the corner. Though there seem people shopping for the main festival in usually crowded market hubs of Kathmandu, the popular places such as Putalisadak, Bagbazaar, Samakhushi, Gongobu and Lainchaur have no attraction of Dashain costumers. Dashain shopping is more visible in Asan, I n d r a c h o w k , Hanumandhoka and Basantapur where the stuffs necessary for offering worship to Goddess

Durga during the great festival are available in one stop. The earthquake-triggered effects are also visible in the areas. Beside this, the high price rise of essential goods and India-imposed unannounced blockade at border points have panicked Nepali Hindu revelers celebrating Dashain, said Krishna Rupakheti, who has come to Kathmandu for Dashain shopping. "In comparison to previous years, the inflow of people for festive shopping is quite low", said Suman Shrestha, a shopkeeper who has been selling Dashain worship stuffs in Asan. (Agencies)

Xi's state visit to herald golden age for Britain-China ties Beijing, Oct 18: Chinese President Xi Jinping's state visit to Britain next week could herald the start of a golden age in the Britain-China ties, a British academic on international affairs said .Prof.

Nicholas Rees, dean of Arts and Humanities at Liverpool Hope University, told Xinhua that China in recent years has demonstrated that it has "come of age" on the international stage.Xi's upcoming visit only to Britain on its itinerary is a clear sign of China's eagerness to develop closer links with London, said Rees, who also heads the university's politics

and contemporary history faculty.Xi will pay a state visit to Britain from Monday to Friday, the first by a Chinese head of state in a decade.Rees said that Britain's post-austerity reconstruction needs to attract investment from overseas, and China is a key player in this regard."In the last few months we have witnessed a sign that China is coming of age. In respect of its global engagement, it is very much focused on Europe in terms of investment," he said."China is investing overseas, and particularly in Europe, and Britain is one of those key players along

with France and Germany," he said."In many respects China has changed a lot in the last 20 years or so. There

are still some myths and views about China, but if you look at the images on television screens and in the media, you

can see how China operates today, with an open economy that is functioning," the professor said."Of course there are issues, but the British government takes a pragmatic view, looking at the realities of investment opportunities. Chinese business people, like British business people, want to make deals if they can," he noted.With China's role in the world changing dramatically in recent years, Britain and Europe can't afford not to look at China, and India, the two big players in Asia, Rees noted.

Rees believed that trade with China is today far more sophisticated than

the days when most imports centered on low cost plastic goods."It is increasingly along the lines of scientific, financial services and educational. You only have to look at the vast number of visas issued to Chinese people to come to the UK. The number of British people living in China is growing, but is still only 20,000 which are minute in terms of China's population," he said."We could be entering a golden age, a golden decade in our relationship with China.

President Xi's statement recently to the UN was very much in line with China's policies.

He was demonstrating

soft power diplomacy, particularly around commercial and economic opportunities," he said."It will be very interesting to see what comes out of President Xi's visit. In some respects we are waiting to see if China will make the investments, such as in nuclear power and rail and road infrastructures, "he added."With very careful diplomatic manoeuvreing, and much nuanced language, and respect for the cultural differences, it could be the start of a golden age, or a golden decade in the future relationship between Britain and China," said Rees. (Agencies)

PAGE 8

DIBRUGARH, MONDAY, OCTOBER 19

Australia's Submarine Debate: Shipyards and Seas Prices of pulses rise A staple diet for most of the country has risen Following the rain scarcity across the state, the prices of cereals and pulses have gone up by 20 to 50 per cent making a big hole in the pocket of the common man. Even in the near future, there will be no respite from the price rise and during Diwali, the situation may become grimmer. Especially, the prices of tur dal, chana dal and moong dal went beyond the reach of common people, affecting their day to day staple diet. Tud dal, which cost around Rs80 a kg last October, is currently being sold at up to Rs170 a kg. Udid dal was Rs82 a kg last October, but is available at Rs165 a kg now.

The prices of pulses which is nearly a staple diet for most of the country has risen to a large extent from the last 2 years. This may be due to less area under production for pulses in country or less per hectare yield of pulses or growth in demand. But the apathy is that there is no supportive government policy which could have helped India to raise the pulses production by giving more incentives to the farmers growing pulses, reducing loses to the intermediaries. One more benefit of higher pulses production is it takes less of nitrogenous fertilizers and is essential for regular wheat rice fields.

Even though the government has imported 5,000 metric tons of dal, except for Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh, no other state has shown any willingness to lift the stock.

This is because despite a central government subsidy, additional costs like transport and milling increase the price by the time pulses reach the consumer.

Last year, India produced 17.20 million tons -- 2 million tons less than the previous year. The drop in production has widened the demand-supply gap, which India tries to bridge through imports.The prices of onion too has risen nearly 300% or more in the last month. The first reason is inefficient government policy which do not foresee demand supply situations, since onions are perishable quantities. The recent unseasonal rains in Nasik area has destroyed 10% of the crops, but still the quantum of price rise cannot be substantiated. The major culprit here is no control over the last leg of supply chain i.e retailers , they are having the profit margin of more than 50% . They are speculating on the deficient supply and holding the common man on ransom. Moreover in India expert was stopped at a much later stage , which led to the spike in prices for the first instance.

There is another factor which is at play in high inflation rates across the commodities and it is ever increasing rates of petrol and diesel. The common plea given by the government to the people of India during every rate increase is rising international crude prices, But they should first answer why there is double taxation by center and state on sale of petrol and diesel.

The question arises is to the respective governments is why cannot these duties be reduced, so that atleast the transportation cost for the common commodities is reduced. All the arms of government machinery, NGO's, common man should make an effort to discuss this problem and devise solutions which are practical and pragmatic in nature.

Changing higher educational scenario in Northeast A good sign of development With high rate of literacy but poor quality of education, our Northeast does have to go a long way in terms of achieving perfection in fields of education. The limitation of the present system is either potential or vocational education with no formal academic credibility and as such is viewed as low in social prestige. It is also unable to address both quantity and quality requirements and is generally out of reach as large number of aspirants remains un reached for want of time, access and money to conventional institutions as full time students.

Although higher and technical educational scenario of the Northeastern region have been drastically changing from last five years. Although facilities of world class institutions are now available in the region itself, every year a large number of students from the region fall in the trap of not only fake institutions, but also some approved institutions without required facilities because of their colorful advertisements and aggressive marketing. Despite inheriting a legacy of good education, students of North East have to seek a college outside the region for higher education. However, the announcement of new educational projects by both the Centre and the State is set to pave way for a new era in the education sector of the Northeast.

Presently, the Northeast region is going through a phase of development, and education will be the next sector which the region would seek to excel. With the laying down of the foundation stone of the first Tata Institute of Social Science (TISS) in Nagaland it became very clear that Northeast can too be develop as an excellent in educational fields.The campus will be developed on a sprawling 232 acres of land donated by the villagers. The other such proposed centres are Institute of Social Work, Institute of Agriculture Development, Institute for Teachers' Training, Institute for Vocational Studies and Training, Cultural Resource Centre for Naga Art and Crafts, besides a Gandhi Museum and Study Centre comprising Gandhian and Nagaland/North Eastern affairs.

This is an opportunity of a perfect example that how a community comes together to profess the educational needs and also the skill needs of children & strengthen them so that they can have a better future. The Centre has announced a number of similar projects for the Northeast including the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Assam, an Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) in Nagaland and a Centre for Film Production, Animation and Gaming in Arunachal Pradesh. Also, new IIMs will come up in all North East States other than Meghalaya.

The coming up of so many educational institutes in NE points out to only thing that our Northeast too is not far behind the other developed states of India as whole.

The debate often misses the regional context surrounding Australia's submarine program.

Helen Clark What's being left out of Australia's submarine and naval security debate? The region those subs will be patrolling.

In terms of defense news, the submarine debate on who will build Australia's new fleet, and where it will be built, has had some staying power.

However, the mainstream debate has not really looked at changes in the region. Many countries in the Asia-Pacific are now pursuing their own submarine plans, and nuclear-capable submarines in the Indian Ocean are not far away. The South China Sea is a focus for new Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull but the recent drill with India hasn't received a lot of attention in the Australian press. What else is happening in the region, and what might that mean for future submarine and naval plans.

China and South China Sea a Priority Turnbull gave his first serious interview on September 21. He spoke about domestic and foreign policy. ISIS, of course, remains a threat.

But Turnbull has also come out strongly against China "pushing the envelope" in the South China Sea and suggested it is pushing regional instability whilst also ensuring a greater U.S. presence in the area, something that would seem contrary to Chinese interests.

How will this affect Australia and what will Australia's role be in one of the busiest and most contested waters? On this Turnbull was a little less clear: "Well our Defence Force has - and this is not a revelation ‌ Our Defence Forces have to be able to play a role in a range of different potential conflict situations.

But, you know, we're not - we're not seeking to, um, ah - I don't want to - noone - no-one, least of all the Australian Government, wants to exacerbate situations."

Turnbull is right that China's actions seems to be driving a greater U.S. presence and closer relations between it and cer-

tain nations. He name checked the closer Vietnam-U.S. relationship.

According to this mid2014 piecefrom HIS Jane's territorial disputes in the Asia-Pacific and "continued concerns over China's military development - are driving defence spending across the region. This has been characterised by some as an arms race, although it may be better viewed as a region-wide materiel upgrade propelled by resource competition, rising government revenues and declining markets elsewhere in the world."

At the same time, both China and India are moving closer to having nuclear-capable submarines patrol the Indo-Pacific, and India and Australia are keen on naval exercises. Australia, in fact, wishes to participate in the Malabar exercises with India, the U.S. and Japan; Australia withdrew from those exercises in 2008.

The View in Australia, SEA 1000, etc.

China is a factor in many Australian plans, both economic and defense.

China will also factor in the upcoming defense White Paper, which was delayed after former Prime Minister Tony A b b o t t ' s shipbuildingannouncement and may now make it out in October or November.

The Competitive Evaluation Process (CEP) between Japan, Germany and France and the issue over local build is front

and center in the debate on the future submarine fleet. Sweden, which built the six Collins-class submarines the Royal Australian Navy currently operates, was ruled out early, to their and others' surprise. Japan was picked earlier, for strategic and alliance reasons, but the up and downsides remain, on a purely technical level, complex. Australia, with its enormous coastline, has special needs and can't simply chose an off-the-rack purchase, even if domestic politics was not such an important factor. The Australian Strategic Policy Institute has been running an excellent series on this on their Strategist blog, profiling the three nations and nearly every other aspect of the submarine process. The Kockums-built Collinsclass were designed with Australian needs in mind, both the large coastline and a deterrence-based defense policy. Though sometimes maligned, they are among the quietest and least detectable subs in operation. The question won't be decided this year and new Defense Minister Marise Payne has already said she won't be drawn into debate at this stage.

The CEP is politically loaded, of course, and Tony Abbott's announcements of a A$90 billion ($65.6 billion) naval ship and submarine build and 2000 jobs for South Australia early last month were called a first "elec-

tion salvo." A paper from the Defence Minister said in February, "Submarines are the most complex, sensitive and expensive Defence capability acquisition a Government can make." The go-or-no dogfighting capabilities of the F-35 pale in comparison to the complexities of a submarine fleet, especially one built for Australia's unique needs.

The winner of the CEP will have to build as much of the new fleet in Australia as possible, despite the poor report on the Air Warfare Destroyers and a lengthy report by RAND Corp commissioned by the Australian government earlier this year on the naval shipbuilding capabilities of the three main shipyards that suggested they were not quite competitive or effective enough.

One of the talking points of the Japanese Soryuclass, which former Abbott was earlier suggesting Australia should buy off-the-rack, was that it might have shored up something of a trilateral alliance between Australia, the U.S. and Japan.

The U.S. was certainly happy with the Soryu idea. Aussies however, were not remotely happy with the idea of coming to the aid of Japan should any conflict with China arise. Ankit Panda has a moreup-to-date analysis on what Malcolm Turnbull might mean for a Japanese sub-build.

The Missing Piece of the Debate

So far, so much the same ground covered. All this has been the view from Australia since last year.

But the rest of the region is also engaged in its own submarine race. Politicians aren't talking about that as much, outside of Turnbull's South China Sea comments.

Vietnam has now taken possession of its six new Kilo-class Russian-made submarines, ordered in 2009. Vietnam also wants naval assistance from Washington, with President Truong Tan Sang saying during Ashton Carter's June visit that he would like Washington to "provide all necessary assistance to Vietnam in raising the capacity of maritime law enforcement forces."

Indonesia is now looking at Russian subs of its own, preferring when the budget allows it, to buy new and no longer second hand. More broadly, Indonesia wishes to increase its naval presence in the region. Thailand has been wanting submarine capability for a long time but has delayed purchase again after finally plumping for three Chinese-built subs. As Prashanth Parameswaran has noted, the Chinese option was unexpected, "given the significance of the purchase, the Thai military's preference for Western equipment which was also on offer, and well-known suspicions about the reliability of submarines from Beijing‌."

At the same time this worthwhile paper from the Lowy Institute has noted that China and India are moving to the test phase of their nucleararmed submarines, which will patrol the Indo-Pacific, and discusses what that might mean for stability. China can apparently already put a nuclear-capable submarine out to sea with weapons. "Advocates of seabased nuclear weapons see such fleets as providing stability because of their relative invulnerability to surprise attack‌ This was certainly the case during the Cold War. But what applied in the 20th century struggle be-

tween the West and the Soviet Union does not necessarily hold for the more complex strategic situation that is now evolving in Asia." The security environment is changing rapidly, in other words.

The majority of Australia's trade goes through an area already patrolled by half the world's submarines, and with plans afoot for more in many nations this will increase.

Australia is concerned enough to have been involved in its first-ever war games with India, ones which had a submarine focus, which apparently unsettled the Chinese. Captain Sheldon Williams, defense advisor at the Australian High Commission in New Delhi told Bloomberg last month, that there is "potential for increased security tensions in the Indian Ocean.. We sit right in the confluence of the Indian and Pacific Oceans.

We have a significant responsibility for its security. That's how we're looking at it now." Australia and India both have a stake in Chinese nuclear-capable submarines in the Indian Ocean.

Australia has also requested to join the Malabar Exercise between India, the U.S. and Japan, though actually pulled out in 2008 under Kevin Rudd.

These wider strategic moves do not always make it into public debate over the circumstances Australian submarines might face.

What would closer ties or a "democratic security diamond" (as Shinzo Abe has said of the Japan-U.S.-IndiaAustralia quadrilateral arrangement) mean? Would the pick of a customized Soryu be a good option for those reasons?

What is Australia's perception of these shifts in the security environment? Much may be cleared up once the White Paper finally arrives, but until then the debate will stick to shipyards and not seas.

As the 108 service deteriorates

Sir, The state-run ambulance service - 108 - which was a significant service introduced for the benefit of rural people during the term of CM Tarun Gogoi lies in a pathetic condition owing to poor upkeep of automobiles, wherein its drivers have to ferry the patients in the same condition without much of a choice. The ambulance service was quite efficient only till recently, but now it is not much of use owing to its poor upkeep. One is not sure whether the patient reaches the hospital safely in such rickety ambulances. The rickety ambulances including the medical apparatuses installed in it do not function

properly owing to poor maintenance by the contractor. There is no safety for the ambulance drivers, healthcare assistants and the patients. It is an irony that the ambulance drivers and staff have no proper housing facility. This poor service and condition of 108 service in Assam have once again laid bare the hollowness of the Tarun Gogoi led government. Many a time it also happens that people keep waiting for the arrival of the 108 service but it hardly arrives on time.

Yours etc Junmoni Neog Tinsukia The menace of Air Pollution Sir, As a country, India has a number of converging factors which contribute to poor air quality: booming industrialization, exceptionally crowded cities, unchecked vehicle regulations, and the widespread burning of trash.

Last year the WHO assessed 1,622 cities worldwide and found India home to 13 of the 20 cities with the most polluted air. More cities in India than in China see extremely high levels of such pollution. Especially to blame are low standards for vehicle emissions and fuel. Nor, for different reasons, are rural people better off. Indoor pollution inhaled from dung-fuelled fires, and paraffin stoves and lights, may kill more than 1m Indians a year. The WHO says the vast majority of Indians breathe unsafe air. The human cost

is seen in soaring asthma rates, including among children. And in a way contributes to cancer and it kills by triggering heart attacks and strokes. Air pollution is likely to cause vastly more deaths as Indians grow older and more obese. Indoor and outdoor pollution combined is the biggest cause of death, claiming over 1.6m lives a year. In spite of these, state governments are slow to enforce national orders, while the Central Pollution Control Board, India's main environmental agency, does little.

I would like to bring the menace of air pollution to the notice of the general public and also the authorities concerned through your esteemed daily.

Yours etc Rekha Borthakur Tengakhat

Best Letter The best letter of the month in the Letter to the Editor section will be awarded an amount of Rs 200. So please keep writing.

Letters to the editor and articles should be sent to : The Eastern Today Chowkidingee, Near Sankardeva Hospital Mancotta Road, Dibrugarh-786003 (Assam) Ph: 0373-2328944 Web : editor.easterntoday@gmail.com

DIBRUGARH, MONDAY, OCTOBER 19

Page 9

Puja Special

Durga Puja fervor grips Dibrugarhians Avik Chakraborty Dibrugarh, Oct 18: Durga Puja celebrations in Dibrugarh are about to begin with great pomp and show coupled with some social messages and themes attached to it. This time the people of Dibrugarh is welcoming Goddess Durga with different subject matter and eye-catching pandals.

Moreover, most of the Puja pandals in and around Dibrugarh have taken to some striking theme-based puja architecture mainly depicting nature, peace and keeping the environment clean. It may be mentioned here that a number of Puja pandals in Dibrugarh are gearing up to showcase some visual delights not attempted before. The artisans are busy in making the puja pandals ready before the festival. Some artisans are working round the clock to complete their work on time. Bokul Durga Puja have a historical importance and every year they celebrate the puja with traditional manner. The puja started 164 years. It comes alive during the four days of the festival. Locals say that the tradition started when an epidemic was sweeping the place. Two gentlemen, Haripad Bhattacharyaa and Tarapad Bhattacharyaa, from Calcutta had come to work in the tea garden.

One of them, Haripad,

Idol of Maa Durga and cohort deities at Jaluk Para Durga Puja pandal in Dibrugarh.

Pic - UB Photos saw Goddess Durga in his dream and she is said to have told him to worship her in order to stop the epidemic. The two gentlemen did as instructed and offered prayers at a place called Kalipith. The prediction proved true and since then people have continued to do the puja.

Several years later, the place of worship was shifted to its present site.

The idol of Goddess

Durga is made at the mandap itself. Since the beginning of the tradition, artisans of a particular family used to come from Calcutta almost two months before to build it.

They try to keep the shape of the idol the same. Work starts on the day of Janmasthami with soil brought from the puja mandap near Timona Tea Estate. For the last 60 years, Nirmal Pal had

been coming from Kolkata to make the idol in keeping with his family tradition. The puja at India club and Theatrical institution here will be celebrating their 127th year, one of the oldest in the town. The Dibrugarh India club was established in the year 1888 and every year the puja has been celebrated in a traditional manner where people from across the town gath-

Electrifying Dandia organized

Amit Nagori Golaghat, Oct 18: Akhil Bhartiya Marwari Mahila Samity of Golaghat organised Dandiya Nite at

Maheswari Bhawan Golaghat . In the programe prizes were distributed in various category as most enthusiastic was Jaya

Prithani., Most graceful dancer Sarita Jain , Best dressed Mamta Malpani, Best dancer Ayushi Todi, Most active dancer

Poonam Agarwal, Rock star dancer Vinita Jain, Spontaneous dancer was Isha Bagaria. Many people took part in the event.

E-media forum to award best Durga Puja in Tinsukia Rishu Kalantri Tinsukia, Oct 18: E-media forum will be organizing competition among various Durga Pujas with the view to award the best

Durga Puja in Tinsukia.

Speaking to The Eastern Today correspondent, Emedia forum office secretary Arjun Mishra said that the Durga Puja's have been

divided into three categories depending upon their budget. Prizes will be given for best pandal, best idol and best arrangement in all categories, he added. Mishra

said the motive behind organizing the competition is to boost the morale of the committee who are working hard day and night to attract the devotees.

On the eve of Durga Puja in Sivasagar Utpal Sarma Sivasagar, Oct 18: Sivasagar has been a place of Sakti Cult since the days of Ahoms. The three centuries old Devi Doul or the temple of Goddess Durga built during the reign of Swargadeo Shiv Singha was one of the most sacred places of worship of Sakti or power.

The temple is situated at the bank of historic Sivasagar tank in Sivasagar town besides the Siv temple. In keeping the ancient customs since the days of the Ahoms, the Doul Committee of Sivasagar too is celebrating the Durga Puja at the

temple this year with high spirits. There have been arrangements of both vegetable and animal sacrifices during the puja. Despite opposition from the animal lovers, the animal sacrifices have been taking place and people come here with goats, ducks and pigeons to offer to the goddess seeking her blessings upon their families. The Durga Puja of Devi Doul is significant from various points of view.

First of all, the temple does not have any idle of goddess Durga during the Ahom. At the time of Puja, earthen idle is

placed here like the all other puja celebrations and on the day of Dussera or “Bhasan”, the idle is given “bisarjan”.

The main drum player of the puja was from a muslim family who was given that responsibility by the Ahom king and his family is called the Daullahs. The preceptors of that family are still living at the historic “Dhai Ali” in Sivasagar and according to the age old customs; the family is even today presented a goat on the “Astami” by the puja committee. This is a perfect example of Hindu-Muslim unity in Sivasagar. There is a temple of Goddess Durga at the bank of Joysagar tank towards the north-west side built in 1798

by Swargadeo Rudra Singha.

Durga Puja was celebrated there once a year. Apart from that, the practice of celebration of Durga Puja in a modern way has first started during the time of the British rule in Sivasagar. This year there are 25 Durga Pujas in Sivasagar town and its surrounding areas.

The

“Sarwajanin Durga Puja” in SIvasagar town which was first started in 1931, has turned 84 years. The Baruwari Durga Puja has completed its 75th year on 2014. The Puja of Durga temple founded by late Nepali Baba too has turned 50. There have been traditions of celebration of both the Basanta Navaratri and Sarat Navaratri here.

There has been no shortage of enthusiasm and eagerness among the people to celebrate the Puja in SIvasagar. Varieties of toys, balloon and pistols have been made abundant in the market by the vendors in Sivasagar. The garments shops are too busy in attracting the customers with schemes and offers. The colorful lightings done by the artisans from Kolkata have created a mesmerizing atmosphere in the Puja pendals. All are eagerly waiting for the holy “Swasthi” on which the “Devi Durga” will come to the earth along with the holy chants and beats of drum and make people joyful for the next five days.

ered to enjoy the puja. On the other hand, Jhalukpara puja Committee, which is celebrating its 58th Durgostav this year is leaving no stone unturned to maintain its supremacy.

This Puja is celebrated in Old Government Boys School Field since 2006 and earlier it was celebrated at Jhalukpara. For the last couple of years the Dibrugarh District administration has awarded the

puja as the best Puja and this year also the committee is expecting a large crowd during the puja.

“This year we are making Buddhist temple and we think that this will attract large crowd,’’ said a committee member. Dibrugarh Kali Bari Durag Puja Committee one of the oldest puja in Dibrugarh.

The Bengali people of Dibrugarh gathered from all the corners of Dibrugarh. Every year Kali Bari Durga Puja attract huge number of people. However, the year 2013 was the most successful year for the committee.

This year Amolapatty Rajohowa Namghar Durga Puja Committee one of the oldest Puja’s celebrated in Dibrugarh has stepped into the 145th year. The Durga Puja was first started by Benudhar Sharma in 1850. He went to Calcutta present day Kolkata to learn the art of idol making and after learning the process from the local artisian he came back to Dibrugarh and made the idol of Goddess Durga and performed all the rituals. Bhudev Phukan, one of the member of the puja committee said from 1870 the Durga Puja was started at Amolapatty Rajohowa Namghar and one Gopal Dowreh gifted the land for Durga Puja. He said Malbhog Baruah erected the puja ghar to perform the Puja in 1920.

Preparations for Durga Puja in full swing

Amit Nagori Golaghat, Oct 18: The preparations for Durga Puja are going on in full swing at Golaghat. Meanwhile the sculptors are busy giving finishing touches to the idols of Goddess Durga and other idols. The pandals are also being given the final touches. All Puja Samitis are trying to grab the attention of the people. Among them are Golaghat Puja Samity (1887), Sarwajanin Taruni Vallabh Dev Goswami Station Road Puja Samity (1890), Golaghat Sanatan Dharma Samaj (1950 ), Kalibari Puja Samity (1961), GF Road Puja Committy (1976 ), Sri Sri Ramkrishna Sewa Samity (1979), Golaghat Town Puja Committy (1985), Hindi School Road Puja Commity (1986), Junakinagar Sarwajanik Puja Samity (2001), Junakinagar Tiniyali Sarwajanin Puja Samity (2002), Golaghat Harizan Puja Commity (2005), Municipality Puja Samity (2009), Sri Sri Shivalay Navagrah Mandir, etc. Temporary vendor shops are being buillt by the roadside near.

At Alupatty, a fair and is expected to do good business. On the other hand, marketplaces are overflowing with customers purchasing clothes and other puja materials. The Golaghat Police is also making arrangements for security during the festivities.

Durga Puja fever grips Nagaon town N. N. Patnaik Nagaon, Oct 18: Durga puja festivities seem to have gripped Nagaon town as hectic preparations and construction of puja pandals for celebration of the puja are coming to an end with final touches being given here.

More than one hundred pandals have come up this year as the number was one hundred and two last year. Of these puja pandals about fifty are permanent pandals while the rest are makeshift arrangements. Five pandals have crossed one hundred years and these are family puja pandals of Janaki Sen at Christianpatty Beltala (1850), Binapani Natya Mandir puja at Haibargaon (1870), Nagaon Bangali Sammelani near Manasa mandir (1894), Durgapuja at Amolapatty Natya Mandir (1896), Fauzadarypatty Sarbajanin Durgapuja (1898). Some old puja pandals in Nagaon town apart from these are

Panigaon Kalibari Puja mandap (1921), Haibargaon Bangali Pujabari (1930), Haibargaon Rail station Kalibadi (1949), Haibargaon Yuvak Sangha (1951), Samaddarpatty Kalibari (1957), Nagaon Station Kalibari (1961), Chakitup Pujabari (1962),

Sastrnagar Kalibari and Mullapatty Itanagar Puja Committee (1963) that have crossed more than fifty years. It may be mentioned here that at Kaliabor, Hatibandha Pujabari Durga puja is being celebrated for more than four hundred years. At Puranigudam too, wooden idol of goddess Durga

carved by Lerela Khanikar is celebrating one hundred and fifteen years of its installation.

In the meantime, despite soaring price of essential commodities, cloth merchants are doing brisk business and there is unprecedented rush at Marwaripatty, Haibargaon Deccapatty markets.

A view of the grand idol of Jorhat Town Station Samity puja which has entered its 68th year.

Pic Nekib Ahmed

BUSINESS

DIBRUGARH, MONDAY, OCTOBER 19

Updated Ertiga launched by Maruti New Delhi, Oct 18: Country's largest carmaker Maruti Suzuki India (MSI) launched an updated version of its multi purpose vehicle (MPV) Ertiga, with introductory price ranging between Rs 5.99 lakh and Rs 9.25 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi). The petrol variants of the car are priced between Rs 5.99 lakh and Rs 8.26 lakh, while the diesel variants are priced between Rs 7.55 lakh and Rs 9.25 lakh (all prices ex-showroom Delhi). The diesel variants of the vehicle come with Smart Hybrid (SHVS) technology which was earlier introduced by the company in its mid-sized sedan Ciaz. "With SHVS technology, Ertiga diesel is the first smart hybrid MPV in India,

CLASSY FEATURES ØThe petrol variants of the car

Maruti Suzuki India (MSI) launched an updated version of its multi purpose vehicle (MPV) Ertiga, with introductory price ranging between Rs 5.99 lakh and Rs 9.25 lakh (exshowroom Delhi).

are priced between Rs 5.99 lakh and Rs 8.26 lakh, while the diesel variants are priced between Rs 7.55 lakh and Rs 9.25 lakh (all prices ex-showroom Delhi). ØThe diesel variants of the vehicle come with Smart Hybrid (SHVS) technology which was earlier introduced by the company in its mid-sized sedan Ciaz. ØWith SHVS technology, Ertiga diesel is the first smart hybrid MPV in India, delivering best in class fuel efficiency of 24.52 km/l. ØWith SHVS, the Ertiga diesel now delivers an enhanced fuel efficiency of 24.52 km/l, 18 per cent higher than the outgoing version.

delivering best in class fuel efficiency of 24.52 km/l," MSI Executive Director, Marketing & Sales, RS Kalsi said in a statement.

The company has also in-

troduced safety equipment such as dual airbags, ABS with EBD, seatbelt with pre-tensioners and force limiters on the base trim as an option, he added. With

Ø Country's largest carmaker

Ø The vehicle, which enjoys a

market share of over 20 per cent in the MPV segment, is available in petrol, diesel (SHVS-Hybrid) and CNG fuel options.

Ø The new Ertiga comes with

premium SmartPlay infotainment system with features like TFT touch screen display, bluetooth, voice command, navigation system and a reverse parking camera with display.

ØIt also comes with a 50:50 split

on the third row for more flexibility. Other new features include Push-Start/Stop with smart key and electrical foldable ORVM.

SHVS, the Ertiga diesel now delivers an enhanced fuel efficiency of 24.52 km/ l, 18 per cent higher than the outgoing version, the company said. Ertiga was

first launched in 2012 and the company has so far cumulatively sold over 2.25 lakh units in the domestic market. The vehicle, which enjoys a market share of over 20 per cent in the MPV segment, is available in petrol, diesel (SHVSHybrid) and CNG fuel options. The new Ertiga comes with premium SmartPlay infotainment system with features like TFT touch screen display, bluetooth, voice command, navigation system and a reverse parking camera with display. It also comes with a 50:50 split on the third row for more flexibility. Other new features include Push-Start/Stop with smart key and electrical foldable ORVM. (Agencies)

January 1 on, you'll get Re1 for three call drops a day Mumbai, Oct 18: Recently, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) came out with a recommendation to make it mandatory for telecom companies (telcos) to pay a compensation of Re1 per call drop, with a maximum limit of three per day, to affected consumers from January 1, 2016. Trai, in its advisory to the government, has said this fine amount that could be charged to telcos would have to be credited into a prepaid consumers account within four hours of its "occurrence". For postpaid subscribers, it has suggested, it should be adjusted in the next bill. "(Telcos should) credit the account of the calling consumers by one rupee. Send a message through SMS/USSD to the calling consumer within four hours of the occurrence of call drop and details of amount credited to his account.

In case of post-paid, consumers

After stock plunge DCB Bank changes its expansion plans Bengaluru, Oct 18: DCB Bank has decided to change its aggressive branch expansion strategy after its earlier plan spooked investors and analysts. In an announcement to stock exchanges on Friday, DCB said that instead of adding 150 new branches in 12 months it would now implement the expansion over a 2-year period.

The bank said the change in strategy was done after receiving feedback from investors, analysts and other stakeholders on its prior expansion plans.

"The management team will work out the financial estimates for the revised branch roll out approach in the next two weeks or so.

This estimate will be communicated to all stakeholders in due course of time," the bank said. Investors had been concerned about the impact the move would have on the bank's return on equity and profits. The stock lost 30 per cent in two days. Following DCB's intimation of its change in stance, the shares rose as much as 7 per cent to Rs. 98.90 in intraday trading on the BSE and ended at Rs.95.80. (Agencies)

(should be) provided details in the next bill," says a circular, signed by Trai secretary Sudhir Gupta. The regulatory body's note says the compensation provision would not only "provide relief" to consumers, but would also "spur service providers to improve the quality of services". It has added that it would keep a close watch on the "implementation of the mandate" as well as the measures initiated by the service provider to minimise the problem of dropped calls, saying it "would undertake a review after every six months, if necessary". Director general of lobby body of GSM players Cellular Operators Association of India(COAI) Rajan Mathews said the telcos are not happy with Trai's solution for addressing the call drop issue. "This doesn't help in any way... Its implementation would be an issue," he said. (Agencies)

Rs 1 crore spend on curating ancient coins by Hinduja Foundations

Bengaluru, Oct 18: The Hinduja Group charity, Hinduja Foundation Antiquity Collection, has spent Rs 1 crore on cataloguing and researching on around 35,000 'ancient coins of India', a rare collection of ancient coins donated to it by a late British army man.

These collections comprise over 35,000 coins, artifacts and antiquities acquired over 65 years, with the major part of the collection being a large number of coins of ancient India and go back 2,600 years, the foundation said. "We have spent Rs 1 crore on cataloguing and researching on these ancient coins and we are ready to spend more as we are doing this for a cause," Hinduja Group chairman Ashok P Hinduja said here, while unveiling the collections to the pub-

1,200 jobs in United Kingdom expected to be cut by Tata Steel: reports London, Oct 18: Steel giant Tata Steel is expected to announce 1,200 job cuts at its plants in the UK next week, according to British media reports. The firm is expected to significantly reduce the workforce at its Scunthorpe steel plant in the north of England, which employs 3,000 people, as well as those in Scotland. Tata has, however, declined to confirm the news of job cuts, issuing only a statement that its continues to "review" the situation. "We've made a number of structural changes to our UK business over the last months and years to make us more competitive. Like all companies we continue to review the performance of our business," a spokesperson said.

British news channel Sky News quoted sources as saying that up to 400 jobs are expected to go in Scotland and the rest in Scunthorpe in the plates section and one of the coke ovens. The jobs in Scotland are within the Long Products Division, specifically in the 'steel plates' section, Sky News reported. Workers' unions have expressed

CUTTING JOBS

British news channel Sky News quoted sources as saying that up to 400 jobs are expected to go in Scotland and the rest in Scunthorpe in the plates section and one of the coke ovens.

The firm is expected to significantly reduce the workforce at its Scunthorpe steel plant in the north of England, which employs 3,000 people, as well as those in Scotland.

Steel giant Tata Steel is expected to announce 1,200 job cuts at its plants in the UK next week.

The jobs in Scotland are within the Long Products Division, specifically in the 'steel plates' section.

The news of the job cuts came days after one of the major steel works in Britain, Sahaviriya Steel Industries UK (SSI) at Redcar in Tees Valley in the north-east of England, was wound up earlier this month.

their fears at what may be in store for them. "This is yet another blow to our steel communities and demonstrates the precarious state of the UK steel industry and emphasises the need for government action," said Roy Rickhuss, general sec-

retary of the Community union. "We'll be seeking further discussions with Tata Steel to understand the full detail, examine alternatives that may safeguard jobs and uphold our principle of opposing compulsory redundancies," he

said. The news of the job cuts came days after one of the major steel works in Britain, Sahaviriya Steel Industries UK (SSI) at Redcar in Tees Valley in the north-east of England, was wound up earlier this month. It led to a major

PAGE 10

steel industry summit headed by UK business secretary Sajid Javid this week to address the crisis in the industry. "This is a hugely difficult time for the steel industry across the world - one of the toughest times ever. It is a worldwide problem, and while it will not be solved overnight, we will work closely in partnership with the industry to help find some answers," Javid said. The crisis has been caused by a mix of cheap Chinese competition, high energy costs, a strong pound and slowing demand. In contrast to the negative headlines, Friday also marked the relaunch of a mothballed steel plant in Newport, South Wales. Indian-origin entrepreneur Sanjeev Gupta's Liberty Group began rolling steel at the mill he had acquired back in 2013. "We intend to buck the recent trend in the UK steel industry, which has culminated in the tragic loss of jobs in the industry," the UKbased businessmen said at the launch of the plant.

(Agencies)

lic at the WTC. The collection also includes paintings, bronzes and stone sculptures, terracotta's, woodcarvings, erotica, textile, beads, photo archives and rare books. The antiquities of the collection are of historical interest, dating back 2600 years and illustrate the art, crafts, literature, science, religion and customs of the bygone ages of India. "There is no business involved in this as we are doing it out of passion and hence we have not made any budget for the programme," he said, adding going forward they plan to collaborate with different museums in different cities to display this rarest of rare coin collection. These coins were sourced by the late British army officer Lance Dane, who donated them to the Hinduja Foundation.

The coins were put on a private viewing here last evening called the 'Lance Dane Bequest'. Dane lived in India much after the British had left the country. Most of the coins are silver, copper, lead, potin (a mixture of cobalt, tin and arsenic) and gold fanams. Some of the coin series are probably the most comprehensive representations of entire dynasties like Satavahana dynasty (150 BC to 250 AD).

The collection has punch marked Mudras, the earliest known coins of the country, and are amongst the best known. It also highlights another dynasty Western Kshatrapas (1st to 5th AD) that is known through its coinage only and is amongst the earliest dated coins of India.

(Agencies)

Online PF withdrawal facility likely by March

Kolkata, Oct 18: Provident fund (PF) subscribers may soon be able to withdraw their money online. The Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) is hopeful of launching an online PF withdrawal facility by Marchend after the Supreme Court extended voluntary use of Aadhaar card to government schemes, including PF. At present, subscribers who wish to settle their accounts with the EPFO are required to apply manually and the process takes two to three weeks. Once the online facility is launched the subscribers will get their money in their bank accounts within three hours of making the application. The EPFO has written to the labour ministry for necessary approvals. To prepare ground for the full fledged launch, the EPFO will start settling all PF withdrawal claims having Aadhaar numbers within three days against the mandated period of 20 days though the claims will be filed manually only. Use of Aadhaar ensures speedy verification of PF withdrawal cases. (Agencies)

Infosys' outgoing CFO Rajiv Bansal joins Ola as new finance head Bengaluru, Oct 18: Taxi aggregator Ola has hired Infosys' outgoing chief financial officer (CFO) Rajiv Bansal as its new finance head, a highprofile recruitment that reflects the scramble for topflight talent among India's cashflush startups.

Bansal, whose exit from InfosysBSE -

0.30 % was announced earlier this week, will be joining the Bengaluru based startup from January 1, three people aware of the development said. "The offer letter has been accepted," said a person directly acquainted with the matter. "This move is in line with our initiative of getting top tal-

ent from across industries to further strengthen the core Ola team," said the person. Bhavish Aggarwal, the cofounder and CEO of Ola, declined to comment. Bansal did not answer phone calls or reply to text messages. When Bansal, 42, was quizzed by reporters about his

plans after Infosys, he gave this cryptic reply: "Our paths will cross again. Whether it will be at a private equity fund, a large business house or a startup, I can't say at the moment. But I am looking forward to working in a value creation space."

Bansal, who joined Infosys in 1999, was

appointed as the CFO of Infosys in 2012. He was one of the highest paid executives.

For the year ending March 2015, Bansal took home a package of $770,858, next only to UB Pravin Rao, the company's chief operating officer and Vishal Sikka, the CEO of Infosys.

(Agencies)

"It was a very good performance. We were disappointed about the Arsenal game (losing 3-0), and we know coming here is difficult, but it's a welldeserved victory and we're delighted"

DIBRUGARH, MONDAY, OCTOBER 19

Wayne Rooney

PAGE 11

FC Pune City go top of the table after 1-0 win over Atletico de Kolkata Agencies Pune: FC Pune City rode on India international Jackichand Singh's second minute strike to snap defending champions Atletico de Kolkata's unbeaten run with a 1-0 win and jump to the top of the Indian Super League standings. The game got off to a lightning start with Jackichand capitalising on a long ball into the ATK half and finishing first time with his left foot past goalkeeper Juan Calatayud to put the home side 1-0 up with just 76 seconds on the clock at the Shree Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex Stadium.

With nine points from four matches (three wins and a loss), Pune leapfrogged ATK on top of ISL table, pushing down the defending champions, who suffered their first defeat of the

season. ATK now have seven points from four matches (two wins, one

draw and one loss).

Calatayud was a busy man throughout the match and

was called into action a minute later to save from a long range effort by Costa

Rican Yendrick Ruiz. The home side were firmly in control in the opening stages as Kolkata struggled to get on the ball. Pune could have doubled their advantage in the 22nd minute but Tuncay Sanli blazed over the bar with a shot off his weaker left foot.

The defending champions were on the back foot and a quick counter-attack set up two more chances for Pune in a goal-mouth scramble at the half-hour mark.

Kolkata had to wait till the 38th minute for their first shot on goal, off Ofentse Nato that he dragged wide off the target. Pune keeper Steven Simonsen got his first touch of the ball four minutes later after making a routine save at near post from ATK's first shot on target. The game resumed with Pune maintaining

their first-half dominance and attacking Atletico's goal. Sanli once again fired over the bar after running onto a knock down from a Pune freekick. The Turkish international was seeing plenty of the ball and had another shot at the hour mark only to be saved by Calatayud. With 10 minutes of play left, ATK finally began to crank up the pressure in search of an equalizer. Pune keeper Simonsen, who did not have much to do for most part of the game, made a spectacular save from an Iain Hume effort that looked destined for a goal. Pune's marquee player Adrian Mutu came off the bench and could have killed the game five minutes later but his header flew over the bar.

`Bored` Hamilton Bad light robs England of pulling a heist! insists organisers to change F1 format ANI London: Reigning world champion Lewis Hamilton has described last week's Russian Grand Prix practice sessions as `boring` and urged the organisers to bring some change in the Formula One race weekend format. Earlier this summer, Federation Internationale de l'Automobile ( FIA) had announced that they would bring several exciting and innovative changes in the race weekend format. Expressing his views, Hamilton insisted that it was high time that the for-

mat should change as it had been the same since nine years. The 30-year-old said it would be exciting if each weekend is going to be different, but, however, said that he doesn't think it would ever happen. Recently, Hamilton secured his ninth title of the season by cruising to a commanding victory at the Russian GP in Sochi. With the Russia GP win, he has clinched his 42nd victory of the Grand Prix and will now be aiming to seize another title in the in the next race in the United States on October 25.

Arsenal thrash Watford 3-0 in PL clash

Agencies Abu Dhabi: England were forced to settle for a draw in the first Test against Pakistan after bad light came into play on Day Five of the 1st Test in Abu Dhabi. England ended the day on 74 for 4 in 11 overs needing 100 to win. Joe Root was unbeaten on 33 and giving him company was Ian Bell on five. Earlier, England declared on 598 for nine on the final morning of the first Test in Abu Dhabi on Saturday, 75 runs ahead of Pakistan with

both teams still to bat again. England had resumed on 569-8, with Adil

Rashid and Stuart Broad at the crease as the tourists sought to build a de-

Midfielder Aaron Ramsey maintained the momentum and smacked a goal in the 74th minute to make it 30 against the hosts. With the win, Arsenal maintained their second spot in the standings, having 19 points from nine games which they have played.

The Gunners will now square-off against Everton at Emirates Stadium on October 24.

Railways needs 41 more runs to win C.K Naidu Trophy ET Correspondent Golaghat, Oct 18: In the match of the CK Naidu Trophy, Railways are in the drivers’ seat with them requiring another 40 more runs to win. After gaining a 71 run lead in the first innings, the railways bowlers bundled out the home team for 165 in their second essay. S.S Mishra and A.Mishra bagged 4 and 3

wickets respectively for the Railways. For the home team only Manas Gogoi (37) and Sanjeev Brahma (32) provided any kind of resistance. Chasing the target, Railways team were 54/4 at the end of days’ play with V.S Anand (23) and SS Mishra (8) batting at the crease. For Assam Mantu Das took two wickets.

Agencies Odense: Ace Indian shuttler P V Sindhu made it to her maiden Super Series final with a stunning upset victory over reigning world champion Carolina Marin of Spain in the Denmark Open.

The unseeded Indian beat the world number two and All England champion Marin 21-15, 18-21, 2117 in a closely-fought semifinal that lasted one hour and 14 minutes at

Odense Sports Park in the USD 650,000 Super Series Premier event. This was 20-year-old Hyderabadi's first win against Marin in their last four outings. Sindhu, a twice bronze medallist in World Championships, will now take on former world number one and reigning Olympic champion Li Xuerui ranked fourth in the tournament of China in the summit clash.

Record Ronaldo goal helps put Real Madrid win

NCC puts up spectacular finale at 2015 NCC National Games ANI New Delhi: The National Cadet Corps (NCC) put up a spectacular finale at the -National Games 2015 in the presence of Minister of State for Defence Rao Inderjit Singh.

The 11-day event concluded at the Garrison Parade Ground, Delhi Cantonment. Rao Inderjit Singh acknowledged the vital role and commitment of the NCC to groom future leaders.

He complimented the NCC fraternity for the impres-

sive conduct of the games. The closing ceremony witnessed hundreds of young blossoming cadets performing a scintillating choreographed dance display with the theme "Vibrant India", a thrilling and daring display by the "Dare Devils"- Motor Cycle Display Team and the Para- Motors from the Indian Army and the Sarang Helicopters which left the audience spell bound with a well synchronized show. This was

followed by a smart march past by the participating sportspersons formed in 17 directorate contingents, led by Cadets mounted on their stallions carrying the National, Services and the NCC Flags symbolizing 'Unity and Discipline'.

The minister presented the winners trophies for each event of the NCC Games -2015 and the Raksha Mantri Overall Champions trophy went to Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and

Klopp's Liverpool reign begins with draw at Spurs ANI London: Arsenal continued their dominating performance in this season of Premier League as they clinched an easy 3-0 win over Watford at Vicarage Road. After a dull and goalless first half, star forward Alexis Sanchez put his side in lead in the 62nd minute of the game before Olivier Giroud doubled the lead six minutes later.

fendable lead before putting Pakistan into bat.

Alastair Cook declared after 10 morning overs.

With potentially 20 wickets still to fall, a draw was the most likely result but the match turned on its head as England managed to bundle out Pakistan for 173 in their second essay.

Adil Rashid who posted the worst bowling figures on debut in the first innings turned the tables dramatically by claiming five wickets. The second Test starts on Oct. 22 at Dubai.

Sindhu shocks world champ Marin, in maiden Super Series final

Agencies London: Juergen Klopp's reign as Liverpool manager began with a few points made but only one gained from an exciting, end-to-end 0-0 draw against Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane.

Klopp's new team displayed signs of the high energy, high-pressing fullthrottle footballing style he

perfected at Borussia Dortmund, but without the injured Daniel Sturridge in attack, they lacked the guile to break down a resilient Spurs defence.

Spurs though displayed the high-pressing game which their coach Mauricio Pochettino favours but the hosts failed to find a route to goal and in the end a draw was a fair reflection

of the game. Spurs have now stretched their run to eight league matches without defeat since the opening day while Liverpool have drawn six of their last seven games in all competitions with Klopp now a little wiser about his new side. Tottenham are now seventh in the table with 14 points, a point clear of Liverpool in ninth.

Chandigarh NCC Directorates. The NCC National Games has its genesis in the year 1997 when they held as part of the NCC Golden Jubilee Celebrations. Since 2013, the games are being conducted in a centralised format at Delhi. This year's ceremony was attended by the Chairman and Chiefs of Staff Committee and Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha, several senior officers from the services and all officers and ranks of NCC.

Agencies Madrid: Real Madrid opened a two-point lead over Villarreal at the top of La Liga when Cristiano Ronaldo set a club scoring record in a 3-0 stroll at home to Levante.

Marcelo fired Real ahead in the 27th minute at the Bernabeu when he exchanged passes with Ronaldo and blasted the ball past Ruben in the Levante goal. Ronaldo made it 2-0 three minutes later when he cracked a long-range effort into the

corner, his 324th Real goal putting him one clear of former Spain striker Raul. It ended a rare fourmatch goal drought in Spain's top flight for the Portugal captain, his joint-worst run since he joined Real in 2009. Substitute Jese skipped past his marker and drove the ball high into the net to make it 3-0 eight minutes from time as Real secured a morale-boosting win ahead of Wednesday's Champions League Group A match at Paris St Germain.

Mao Tai Club mauls Chongkham Celta 9-0 9th Chongkham Champions Running Trophy

Manchester duo hit scoring spree Agencies London: Goals rained in for Manchester City and Manchester United in their respective premier league matches.

Raheem

Sterling's hat-trick and a brace for Wilfried Bony helped leaders City to a 51 home win against Bournemouth while a few miles down the motorway

United got back to winning ways with a 3-0 thumping of Everton, Wayne Rooney scoring United's third, his first away league goal for 11 months. "It was a very good performance. We were disappointed about the Arsenal game (losing 3-0), and we know coming here is difficult, but it's a well-deserved victory and we're delighted," said Rooney, who now has 187 Premier League goals, second only to Alan Shearer with 260. City lead second-placed United by two points in the premier league table.

ET Correspondent Chongkham, Oct 15: Mao Tai embarrassed Chongkham Celta 9-0 in a match of the ongoing 9th Chongkham Champions Running trophy at the Chongkham mini stadium.

The tournament is being organised by the Chongkham Youth Welfare Association.

The Chongkham camp of the army is helping the organizers in publicity of the event which has become a popular event of the locality. The

match was completely onesided as player after player from Mao Tai team attacked the Chomgkham Celta’s goal and kept scoring. The first goal of the match was scored in the third minute by Koliyan Namchoom. The score was doubled in the 10th minute when Danny scored.

Koliyaan Namchoom completed his hattrick when he found the back of the net in the 16th and 38th.

In b e t w e e n , Te y k h a m Namchoom scored in the

35th minute with a long range effort. After the break, the dominant brand of football was carried on. They found the back of the net in the 50th minute when scored a stunner. Thereafter, Sunaya in 58minute, Miling khangkew in the 60th minute and Horen in the 72minute found the back of the net. Koliyan Namchoom was adjudged as the player of the match for his amazing performance. Tomorrow, United Telluliang will lock horns with Momong-A.

DIBRUGARH, MONDAY, OCTOBER 19

Puja Special Makeup & Hair Tips to look fabulous this Durga Puja

The pujo season is here! Oh yes. We are welcoming the festive season with lots of shopping and planning. But shopping is not enough to look gorgeous on these colorful days. Planning our looks for Durga Puja is equally important. So if you have been wondering how to do up your hair and makeup this pujo, here are a few tips which will surely make you look best this festive season.

Durga Puja Makeup Tips & Tutorial For morning keep your makeup light & natural.

The weather is too unpredictable and if it doesn't rain then the scorching sun is sure to melt your makeup. So apply a light waterproof base and always keep some blotting tissues handy.

Base Makeup For the morning outing, you can apply a light layer of BB cream if you find that a foundation is too heavy for you. Apply a little compact powder to set the base but don't forget to apply sunscreen beneath your base makeup. The makeup for daytime should always be light and fresh. For night, jazz up your makeup. Opt for a dewy base or if you have oily skin then powder highlighters are your best bet to fake that glow. This will help catch the light at the right angles of the face. Don't forget to contour and apply a nice peach or pink blush.If you have planned a whole night outing or pandal hopping do make sure to use a good oil control primer which help keep your makeup in place.

Durga Puja Eye Makeup Bong beauties love their kajal and you can go as bold as you want with it during the pujo days but do make sure your kajal is smudge proof, you don't want to end up looking like a panda, do you? If you

are planning to do pandal hopping, it is imperative you use waterproof eyemakeup. For morning, keep your eye makeup soft and use neutral shade like a beige, light pink or a matte brown. For the night, we suggest a smouldering bronze eye makeup or gold smoky eyes. Those, who have a darker complexion, could opt for bronze and chocolate eyeshadows as such colors compliment most of the ethnic wear and flatter the skintone really well.

Lips Bongs look the best with kohl rimmed eyes and a deep red lip. If you do not have dry lips opt for mattes. They last longer and are mostly transfer proof. Use vibrant colors at night which goes well with your outfits. For daytime opt for a nice peachy coral or pinks and go bold with reds at night. Don't forget to read our tips on how to make your lipstick last longer so that you don't end up touching it up throughout the day.

Hair Style If you have long hair, then just do a half updo.

But if your hair tends to be frizzy then do a french braid on the side and tie the length into a low bun which looks classy yet glamorous. Soft waves look equally good and if you don't want to use heat then wash your hair, tie them in 1-2 inch braids and keep it overnight. You'll wake up to beautiful no heat beachy waves!

No Durga Puja Makeup look is complete without a small bindi especially if you are wearing a saree.

Opt for the traditional red and you are ready to turn heads this Durga Puja. Durga Puja is full of joy and fun. Even if you are not a bengali, and its an experience you will always cherish. The countdown has begun and we are just counting down days with the excitement increasing day by day.

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Navratri special: Know how Durga Puja is celebrated in East India It's that time of the year for the Bengali, Hindus and Assamese, who wake up to the 'Dhak'(drum) beats every morning, following the ten-day long festival of Durga Puja. One is lost in worship, and in life and soul. A deep sense of pride and enthusiasm takes over you. You are lost in revelling the cultural bonanza attached to the customary practices of the puja. Durga Puja is also referred to as Durgotsava in Bengali, which marks the victory of Durga over the buffalo demon- Mahishasura. It symbolises the victory of good over evil. It refers to all the six days observed as Mahalaya, Shashthi, Maha Saptami, Maha Ashtami, Maha Nabami and

Vijayadashami.

The worship of goddess Durga takes place on a grand scale for the people belonging to the eastern part of the country, and you have to witness it to understand the magnitude of this festival.

Mother Durga represents 'shakti', the feminine force which guides us and destroys all the evil from earth. The celebration of Durga Puja is culturally significant and holds emotional value for the people of Bengal, Assam and adjoining areas.

Durga Puja is also about the annual visit of goddess Durga with her children to her ancestral home on earth, and her reunion with Shiva on Vijayadashami

i.e, the last day of the Navratri. She is the destroyer of all evil and and embodiment of power.

Throughout the 6 days of this festival, the cities transform and show cultural mileu. Pandals are set up in all the nooks and corner of city, wherever possible. The idols are creatively crafted by the potters, out of clay and the lifesize idols of Durga along with her children are installed in the pandals.

Community puja or `Sarbojanin` puja, take up the role of organising the puja in their locality by housing idols in pandals and make-shift temples, each community trying to outdo the other, competing in decoration, themes cel-

ebration, food, drink and of course the rituals. The themes again are not ordinary, they keep evolving over the years (animated theme, Harry Potter, Cave, Rocket theme, Space and so on).

The five-day worship of the goddess ends with a grand procession of immersing the idol in the nearby river. This marks an emotional moment, as she leaves her home to reunite with Shiva, marked by Vijayadashami. This indicates Durga's victory over the evil and in Northern

Recipe Rava Fried Fish Ingredients: 50 gm rava 3 fillets of Basa fish 2 tsp ginger garlic paste 50 ml refined oil 1 tsp red chili powder 2 lemons quartered Pinch of salt 1/2 tsp turmeric powder Handful coriander leaves Method: Take ginger garlic paste in a bowl and add chilli powder, turmeric and salt.

Drizzle 2 spoons of refined oil and mix it well.

Flavour the fish fillets with the paste and then coat the pieces with rava.

Add fair amount of refined oil in a preheat pan and shallow fry the fillets.

Lay some chopped coriander in a platter.

Serve the fillets into

part of the country, it is known as Dusherra which marks Rama's victory over the demon Ravana.

During the five-day celebration, devotees abstain from alcohol, meat, onions, and wheat. This is something similar to people observing fasts during the Navratras.

The end of Navratri calls for an auspicious time for new business or considered lucky for any new work, following a number of rituals which leads to `Shubho Bijoya`.

After the last day of the

Navratri, known as `Vijaydashami`, where idols are taken in grand procession for the immersion-`bhaashan`, Hindu Bengali exchange greetings for a prosperous year and take blessings from elders.

The last day has an emotional significance, as it is always difficult to bid farewell to Maa Durga, after the week long grand celebration and worship.

With Durga Puja just round the corner, lets join in and chant 'Bolo Durga Mai ki Jai'!

Amba, Jagdamba Maa Durga Beauty Lekharu Saikia

the platter with lemon pieces Rajbhog Ingredients: 200 gm paneer from cow's milk 1 Tbsp maida (refined flour) 1/2 kg sugar 2 cups water 1/4 tsp golden food color 1/8 tsp saffron 1 tsp cardamom powder 8 blanched and chopped almonds

8 blanched and chopped pistachios Method: Mix the saffron with the cardamom powder, almonds and the pistachios.

Put the sugar and water over medium heat, to dissolve the sugar, stirring all the time.

Meanwhile mash the paneer and maida together to a smooth consistency.

Divide mixture into 68 and form round

flats, put some mixture in the center and form into smooth round balls again.

When the sugar is dissolved, add the food color and over high heat add the paneer balls.

Cook over high heat for 15-20 minutes, adding water every 5 minutes, so that the sugar does not get too thick. Cool and serve.

Oh mother, the saviour, the Goddess of bounty and wealth.

You encompass in yourself the essence of Salvation and sacrifice, fury and strength.

Maa Durga you are for one and all, the whole world in your own.

For beggar or king, lady or lad, Known or unknown.

People keep counting days, plead you on Mahalaya, to arrive their ways.

To welcome the Mahashakti, destroyer of evils, the one who slays, Mahisasura, with mighty arms, carrying lethal weapons.

You symbolize the feminine form of supreme being, among all heavenly creations.

Your incarnation, has special significance, to pressure the moral order.

You are an embodiment of power and energy, To rectify the utter disorder.

You are the Sati, You are Maa Kali, Maa Parvati or Goddess!

You are multi dimensional with many names, many personas and many facets.

Symbol of wrath, symbol of courage, You symbolises victory of good over evil.

Showing your vigour, you rescued the world, from the clutches of the devil.

Durganandini, Durgatinashini Oh Mother Goddess!

Please nourish the land, nourish every mind, always protect us and bless.

Maa Amba, Jagdamba Maa Bhawani and Basanti Heralder of spring, object of death and symbol of life, show every creature your mercy.

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